File footage of snowfall captured in the Drakensberg. Image: Twitter/@Monique_PR_
The SA Weather Service expects a cold front to hit the Western Cape on Tuesday, moving to the neighbouring Eastern Cape on Wednesday, and affecting Gauteng by Thursday.
It will result in a huge drop in maximum temperatures in the province.
The drop in the maximum temperatures will also be experienced in Mpumalanga on Thursday.
Forecaster Bransdy Bulo said the Eastern Cape, Lesotho, and the Drakensberg and surrounding areas in KwaZulu-Natal could expect snowfall on Wednesday.
Snow Report SA said on Facebook: “Just when we thought winter was over, the weather data is suggesting that the biggest snowfall of the season is on its way this week!
“The first snow with this system seems possible during the early hours of Wednesday morning in the Tiffindell and Rhodes area of the Eastern Cape, and by midday on Wednesday, we are expecting to see snow right the way along the Eastern Cape Drakensberg, the Southern Drakensberg and into the central high Drakensberg. During the afternoon on Wednesday, we expect these falls to intensify, and extend further north into the Maluti Mountains around AfriSki and into the eastern parts of Lesotho.
“During Wednesday night and into Thursday morning, we expect to see further intensity in the snowfalls as the freezing level drops further, bringing substantial falls over the Eastern Cape Drakensberg, the Southern KZN Drakensberg, as well as the central and northern Drakensberg. During this time, heavy falls are also expected in the central and eastern parts of Lesotho, and there is a chance that some light falls will happen in Matatielle area, and could also come down into the Underberg/Himeville area.
“The heaviest snowfalls will be during Thursday morning, according to the weather data, with significant snow possible from the Malutis in the north of Lesotho, right down through the northern Drakensberg, central and southern Drakensberg, the Eastern Cape Drakensberg, as well as central and eastern Lesotho. Snowfalls seem likely to continue right through Thursday afternoon and into early evening in these areas.
“By Friday morning, all snowfalls should cease, with clear skies expected.”
Maximum temperatures for Johannesburg will be 11°C on Thursday with maximum temperatures for Pretoria forecast at around 14°C to 16°C on the same day, Bulo said.
“There is a good chance of showers and thundershowers on Thursday forecast at 60%,” Bulo said.
The forecaster said there was a 60% chance of showers in the Western Cape, in the Garden Route areas, in George and along the South Coast on Tuesday.
“The temperature will start to recover on Friday while it will remain cold around the Drakensberg areas,” Bulo said.
Gauteng will experience maximum temperatures of 18°C to 21°C on Friday.
“The cold weather starts on Wednesday night in Gauteng and continues on Thursday with temperatures recovering from Friday,” Bulo said.
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