Look: Snow turns parts of SA into winter wonderland

Look as the snow and icy weather turned parts of South Africa into a winter wonderland.

More disruptive snow and icy conditions are expected this week.

According to SA Weather Services (SAWS), several cold fronts are expected to reach South Africa’s shores in the coming week.

“The first weather system of the series is an intense cold front that is expected to affect the western and central parts of the country from Sunday and the eastern parts from Monday.

“This system is expected to bring about widespread and disruptive snowfall over the southern and western high ground, accompanied by damaging winds over the interior and the coastline, high seas along the coastal areas and very cold conditions over a significant part of the country.”

By Sunday the SAWS had a total of 12 weather warnings in place:

• A. Orange level 6 warning for disruptive rain leading to flooding and possible damage of roads bridges is expected over the West Coast, City of Cape Town, cape Winelands and Overberg districts (Western Cape).
• B. Yellow level 2 warning for disruptive rain leading to localised flooding and difficult driving conditions on dirt roads is expected over the northern West Coast, Laingsburg, eastern Garden route (Western Cape) and southern Namakwa (Northern Cape).
• C. Orange level 6 warning for damaging coastal winds and waves leading to damage of coastal infrastructure along longer stretches of coastline is expected between Alexander Bay and Cape Agulhas from Sunday morning, spreading to Plettenberg Bay Sunday afternoon continuing into Monday.
• D. Orange level 6 warning for damaging interior winds leading to structural damage is expected over the southern West Coast, Cape Winelands, and eastern Overberg districts (Western Cape) and along the coast and adjacent interior of the Eastern Cape.
• E. Orange level 8 warning for damaging interior winds leading to structural damage is expected over the City of Cape Town, Drakenstein, Stellenbosch and western Overberg municipalities (Western Cape).
• F. Yellow Level 4 warning for damaging winds resulting in damage to settlements (formal and informal), loss of agricultural production, transport routes, and travel services affected by wind, falling trees or dust storms, interruptions to power, communication, and/or other utilities and services, and a large area of runaway fires are expected over the Eastern Cape, Western Cape, Northern Cape, Free State and the central and western parts of North West province.
• G. Yellow level 4 warning for disruptive snow leading to disruption and closure of mountain passes is expected over the Hantam, Karoo Hoogland (Northern Cape), Cederberg municipalities including the Cape Winelands district (Western Cape) and over the northern parts of Eastern Cape.
• H. Orange level 6 warning for storm surge leading to localised low-lying areas flooded and disruptions to beach front activities is expected along longer stretches of coastlines between Cape Columbine and Cape Agulhas, spreading to Plettenberg Bay on Monday morning.
• I. Yellow level 3 warning for storm surge leading to localised low-lying areas flooded is expected between Cape Columbine and Alexander Bay tomorrow until Monday morning.
• J. Yellow level 4 warning for damaging wind resulting in disruption to harbours/ports, difficulty in navigation with vessels at risk of capsizing, dragging anchors and breaking mooring lines is expected between Plettenberg Bay and Port Shepstone Sunday into Monday
• K. Yellow Level 4 warning for damaging waves resulting in disruption to harbours/ports with vessels at risk of capsizing, dragging anchors and breaking mooring lines are expected between Plettenberg Bay and East London
• L. Orange level 6 warning for damaging wind and waves, resulting in difficulty in navigation, damage to coastal infrastructure and danger to life are expected along the coast between Plettenberg Bay and Cape St Francis on Sunday, spreading to Port Edward on Monday.

Look as snow turned parts of the SA into a winter wonderland:

Take care of your animals in these weather conditions:

• Our animals, especially indoor and outdoor pets, probably do not have an adequate cold coat to protect them in these very low temperatures.
• Hypothermia and dehydration are the two most probable life-threatening conditions for animals in cold weather. Wet conditions and wind chill add greatly to the cold stress for animals.
• Livestock should be provided with windbreaks and roof shelters and monitored for signs of discomfort (extensive shivering, weakness, lethargy, etc.).
• It is critical that animals have access to drinking water. Usual water sources may freeze solid in low temperatures and dehydration becomes a life-threatening factor. Many of our animals, especially the young, may not know how or be unable to break several inches of ice to reach water. In general, animals tend to drink less in extreme cold, risking dehydration.
• Adding a warm sloppy bran mash, sloppy moistened beet pulp or soaking pelleted feed in warm water is a good way to add water to your horses; diet and provide some comfort food; in the cold weather.
• Select frost-tolerant plants over frost-prone areas
• Place cold-sensitive plants in protected locations, western and northern exposures, full sun, or lock walls.
• Do not prune cold-damaged plants until they begin growing in spring.

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