Possible Easter snowfall in parts of KZN

As South Africans prepare for the Easter long weekend from Friday, 18 to Monday, 21 April 2025, a rare weather event has unfolded in the country’s high-altitude regions.

Snow has been reported in parts of the Drakensberg and Eastern Cape.

Snow in the high peaks

According to Snow Report SA, snowfall was confirmed this week in the Drakensberg mountains, particularly around Sani Pass.

The report verified sightings in these areas, with forecasts suggesting up to 10cm of snow along the eastern parts of the Drakensberg.

“A good amount of snow was visible on the peaks from the towns in the central and southern Drakensberg on Wednesday morning,” it said.

The South African Weather Service (Saws) on Wednesday warned of a cold front sweeping across the country, with a chance of slight snowfall over mountain tops in KwaZulu-Natal.

Saws forecaster Tokelo Chiloane noted that KwaZulu-Natal had experienced a Level 4 warning for disruptive rainfall, earlier this week.

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Weather warnings

KwaZulu-Natal’s Transport and Human Settlements MEC, Siboniso Duma, urged residents to exercise caution.

“We are in receipt of a weather report from the South African Weather Services informing us of a cold front that will result in the dropping of temperature, heavy rainfall and possible snowfall,” he said.

Drawing experience, Duma informed residents that a highly efficient team will monitor traffic closely.

“Not long ago, we experienced an extreme heat index of 30 degrees Celsius, but we are now bracing ourselves for possible snowfall and heavy rainfall.”

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Snowfall in 2024

This snowfall warning comes nearly a year after the unprecedented storm that swept through KwaZulu-Natal in September 2024.

Heavy snow led to road closures and saw hundreds of motorists stranded on the N3 near Van Reenen’s Pass, with emergency services battling through treacherous conditions to reach them.

At the time, eThekwini Disaster Management described it as “one of the worst unseasonal snowfalls in over a decade.”

Authorities advise travellers heading to mountainous regions during the Easter weekend to stay updated on weather forecasts and exercise caution on the roads.

While no low-level snow is expected on public roads, conditions in higher elevations may pose challenges.

Residents are encouraged to monitor official channels and heed advisories from the South African Weather Service.

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