Light snowfall expected in parts of SA on Monday

South Africans can expect a cold and windy start to the week, with light snowfall forecast in most parts of the country on Monday afternoon. The South African Weather Service (Saws) has advised the public and farmers to take necessary precautions, as it forecasts a cold front accompanied by a cut-off low expected to affect the Free State, Western Cape, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, southern parts of Gauteng and Mpumalanga and the interior of KwaZulu-Natal, persisting into Tuesday. The public and small stock farmers are advised that very cold and windy conditions, snowfall over mountainous areas and rough to very rough seas (coastal areas) can be expected.

The national weather forecaster has issued an orange level 6 warning, which is disruptive snow resulting in disruptions to livelihoods, major traffic disruptions and some communities temporarily inaccessible, is expected over Chris Hani District, Senqu, Elundini and Matatiele municipalities of the Eastern Cape until Tuesday. Two yellow level 4 warnings have been issued for KwaZulu-Natal. The first one is damaging winds and waves resulting in disruption of small harbours or ports, danger in navigation, disruption of coastal activities, damage to infrastructure and settlements and injuries and danger to life from flying debris are expected along the coast.

The second is damaging winds resulting in damage to settlements, injuries, and danger to life from flying debris over the coast of KwaZulu-Natal and the adjacent north-eastern interior. The national weather forecaster has issued a yellow level 2 warning of snow for some parts of the country. “Disruptive snow leading to localised traffic disruptions, isolated loss of livestock and crops and localised disruptions to services is expected in places over Dr Beyers Naude, Blue Crane, Raymond Mhlaba, Amahlathi, Intsika Yethu, Dr AB Xuma, Mhlontlo and Mzimvubu Municipalities of the Eastern Cape, east and south of the Free State along the Lesotho border and the western parts of KwaZulu Natal, until Tuesday.” Disruptive rain leading to localised flooding of susceptible settlements, roads and bridges, is expected over Nyandeni, Port St Johns, Ingquza Hill and Bizana Municipalities of the Eastern Cape and the extreme southern and western parts of KwaZulu-Natal. “Severe Thunderstorms resulting in localised damage to infrastructure, informal settlements, property, vehicles, livelihood and livestock can be expected over the extreme southern parts of the North West, north-eastern parts of the Free State as well as the southern parts of Gauteng.”