Snow predicted amid heatwave in many areas of South Africa
Even with heatwave conditions affecting several provinces, a warning for disruptive snow has been issued. Here’s what you need to know.
Despite heatwave conditions prevailing across much of the country, the South African Weather Service (SAWS) has released a yellow level 2 warning for significant snowfall in the Eastern Cape.
The warning is valid from 00:00 on Monday, 4 November until 00:00 on Wednesday, 5 November.
SNOW PREDICTED AMID HEATWAVE CONDITIONS IN SEVERAL PROVINCES
The weather service said snowfalls are expected over the high lying areas due to a high pressure system ridging from far south of the country, with a southerly to south easterly wind resulting in cold to very cold and wet conditions in the following areas:
- Chris Hani district municipality
- Joe Gqabi district municipality
- Dr Beyers Naude
- Blue Crane Route
- Matatiele
- Umzimvubu and
- Raymond Mhlaba local municiplaities
The impact-based warning for snow comes as the weather service issued an advisory for heatwave conditions in seven provinces at the weekend.
The weather service said a heatwave is expected to affect Gauteng, Limpopo, Free State, North West, Mpumalanga, as well as north-eastern areas of Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal on Saturday, 2 November until Monday, 4 November as mentioned above.
“Hot to very hot conditions are expected across these provinces with temperatures expected to exceed 40°C in the Lowveld areas, the Limpopo Valley and Western Bushveld,” the weather service said.