The weather system is significantly different from the previous snow event, therefore the impacts expected are not as significant as last week’s snow event. | Doctor Ngcobo/ Independent Newspapers
Durban — Light snow over high-lying areas of the Eastern Cape and southern KwaZulu-Natal can be expected over the coming weekend.
In a statement, the South African Weather Service (Saws) said after the recent snow event of September 19 - 22, which wreaked havoc on roads between the Free State, KZN and the Eastern Cape, light snow can be expected over the Drakensberg this weekend.
Saws explained that weather conditions are expected to change significantly as an upper trough system associated with a ridging high-pressure system at the surface will introduce significant cooling over the escarpment regions of South Africa, extending from the Western Cape up to the southern parts of KZN.
“Daytime temperatures are expected to start cooling down over the Western Cape from Sunday, reaching the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal region by Monday. The expected snowfall will follow a similar trend, starting in the Western Cape early on Sunday morning and spreading eastward towards KwaZulu-Natal on Monday morning.
“Snowfall is expected to clear up in the Western Cape and western parts of the Eastern Cape by Monday evening. Snowfall will, however, persist on Tuesday over the eastern parts of Eastern Cape and southern KwaZulu-Natal,” Saws said.
The weather service explained that a cold front with an associated upper trough arrives in the Western Cape this Saturday afternoon, resulting in showers and rain in the south-western parts of the Western Cape and isolated showers and thundershowers over the western and central interior of the country.
As the cold front moves eastward across the country, onshore flow along the south coast will continue to result in showers and rain persisting into the evening hours. With the cold front already resulting in cooler surface conditions, another upper trough associated with the ridging high-pressure behind the cold front will further cool down the surface temperatures on Sunday, especially along the high-lying regions of the Western Cape and into the southern parts of the Northern Cape.
As the ridging high-pressure system continues to move eastwards, the temperatures are expected to drop further to very cold conditions (maximum temperatures of less than 10℃) over the escarpment of the Eastern Cape and southern KZN into Monday.
“Strong to possible gale force winds as well as ocean swells of 4 to 6 metres can also be expected along the south coast from Sunday into Monday morning as the ridging high-pressure moves through. Daily rainfall accumulation is not expected to exceed 30mm over the period of September 29 until October 1. Light snowfall is likely to occur over the high-lying regions of the Western Cape, southern Northern Cape, the Eastern Cape as well as southern KwaZulu-Natal,” Saws said.
The weather service explained that as the cold front moves across the country, cold to very cold conditions along the south-western parts of the country with rainfall, not exceeding 25mm, are expected over most of the western and central parts of South Africa. Light snowfalls can be expected over the high-lying regions of the Western Cape and places along the extreme-southern parts of the Northern Cape.
Significant marine swells with heights between 4 and 6m can be expected between Saldanha Bay and Plettenberg Bay on Sunday morning, spreading to Port Shepstone by Monday afternoon. Strong to possible gale-force winds can also be expected between Cape Agulhas and Gqeberha (previously Port Elizabeth) on Sunday, spreading as far as East London by Monday morning.
“Light snowfalls are expected to begin in the Eastern Cape and southern parts of KwaZulu-Natal on Monday, persisting into Tuesday morning along southern KwaZulu-Natal. Numerical Weather Prediction models currently indicate that accumulated snowfall depth is not likely to exceed 2cm, however, this forecast may change closer to the time of the event,” Saws said.
“At this stage, the South African Weather Service does not expect the N3 (including van Reenen’s Pass) to be significantly affected this weekend.
“The ridging high-pressure system is ultimately expected to weaken and exit the country from Tuesday afternoon. Daytime temperatures are expected to recover quickly from Sunday into Monday across eastern South Africa.”
Saws added that the system is significantly different from the previous snow event, therefore the impacts expected are not as significant as last week’s snow event.
On Wednesday this week, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) warned residents about the possibility of snow next week. As a result, disaster management teams have been activated.
Cogta MEC Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi alerted residents to the possibility of snowfall next week on Monday and Tuesday.
KZN Cogta said it has been communicating with the Sawsm, which confirmed that early forecasts indicate the province will experience extremely cold temperatures on these days, potentially resulting in snowfall in some areas around the Drakensberg mountains, including parts of the Harry Gwala, uThukela, uMgungundlovu, and Amajuba districts.
“While this forecast is preliminary, further updates are expected. Residents across the province are assured that the Provincial Disaster Management Centre will continue to engage directly with stakeholders, including municipalities, through the respective District Disaster Management Centres, social partners and government entities responsible for law enforcement, disaster response and roads, to ensure plans are in place to deal with any eventuality should the weather conditions deteriorate,” KZN Cogta explained.
“Residents are urged to monitor weather forecasts through reliable sources.”
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