Garth Johnstone
The SA Weather Service issued a statement warning of cold, stormy weather, with the chance of up to 10cm of snow this week.
Snow is expected on the Drakensberg from Tuesday.
The cold front was expected to hit the Cape from Monday, spreading gradually eastward and affecting the Midlands late on Monday and on Tuesday.
It was caused, said the Weather Service, by a weather system called a cut-off low pressure, a deep, closed low pressure that is “displaced equatorward of the main westerly flow”.
Because much of the ground in the interior and eastern regions is already saturated by recent rains, there is a risk of localised flooding of low-lying areas and bridges.
There was a good chance of severe thunderstorms, hail and damaging winds.
⚠️Media Release⚠️: Stormy and cold weather expected across central and eastern South Africa (27-29 April 2020). pic.twitter.com/cFnbf5Y3Sv
— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) April 27, 2020
Up to 40mm, or 50mm, of rain was predicted in some places in the interior.
Early AM satellite image (left) (28 April 2020) and Rainfall (Right). Its a cloudy day over the central and eastern parts of SA with scattered to widespread showers and thundershowers. Its going to be cold over the eastern, central and southern half of SA. Sunny in the west. pic.twitter.com/V38JH1XkIc
— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) April 28, 2020
This will be the second snowfall this year, after snow fell on parts of the Drakensberg earlier this month.
Last weekend the Midlands was hit by a dramatic hailstorm. The area also recorded more than 100mm of rain over a week.
***Reminder: Under the Covid-19 lockdown regulations, the public is not allowed to travel to view snow.
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