Weather service warns of cold, wet and windy conditions
The South African Weather Service has warned that very cold conditions are expected to last until the end of the week. Image Credit: SANews

Home » Look at these photos of deep snow in the Eastern Cape [pics]

Look at these photos of deep snow in the Eastern Cape [pics]

After more than 10cm of snow was predicted for the region (and well into Lesotho) over the weekend, the area has become an inviting playground for outdoor enthusiasts and photographers alike. ALSO READ: Gauteng Midday Weather Update: Fine conditions expected across the province Jaco Den Heyer went for a motorbike ride above Tiffindell Ski Resort on Monday afternoon […]

By Nick Pawson
01-08-23 20:12
in Featured
Weather service warns of cold, wet and windy conditions
The South African Weather Service has warned that very cold conditions are expected to last until the end of the week. Image Credit: SANews

After more than 10cm of snow was predicted for the region (and well into Lesotho) over the weekend, the area has become an inviting playground for outdoor enthusiasts and photographers alike.

ALSO READ: Gauteng Midday Weather Update: Fine conditions expected across the province

Jaco Den Heyer went for a motorbike ride above Tiffindell Ski Resort on Monday afternoon and captured the sheer volume of snow that has fallen in this mountainous area.

Image: Jaco Den Heyer

ALSO READ: July 2023 set to be hottest month ‘in 120 000 years’

Snow on the main slope. Image: Jaco Den Heyer

Rhodes is located in the Eastern Cape Highlands, near the escarpment in the southernmost end of the Drakensberg mountain range in the magisterial district of Barkly East.

ALSO READ: Eastern Cape Midday Weather Update: Partly cloudy with cool conditions

It is 1,832 metres above sea level and is 16 km due south of Lesotho. The village is surrounded by the towns of Maclear, Ugie and Elliot below the escarpment and Barkly East above this barrier.

The Rhodes Hotel, built in 1888. Image: Rhodes Hotel/ Facebook

Rhodes often receives snow this time of the year but otherwise is regarded as having a subtropical highland climate with mild summers and chilly, mostly dry winters.

Snowfall in Rhodes. Image: Jess Machanik

Tiffendell is situated 24 kms above Rhodes. It is usually a year-round alpine resort (temporarily closed) and the only ski resort in South Africa and one of the two ski resorts in Southern Africa.

The resort is located at 2,720 m above sea level on the south facing slope of Ben Macdhui – the highest mountain in the Eastern Cape with an elevation of 3,001 m.

ALSO READ: LOOK: PICTURES of snowy SA turned into a winter wonderland

It was established in 1993 and has been rated number 19 on CNN’s “Top 100 Ski Runs of the World”.

Looking down the main slope onto the Tiffendell resort. Image: Jaco Den Heyer

Other parts of the Cape were turned into a winter wonderland after a strong cold front brought rain and snow over the weekend.

Tags: eastern cape featured MMifunsa snow South African Weather Service