August 2, 2006
By Lucille Davie
YES, you weren't imagining it - that was very light snow falling over Johannesburg. But don't expect it to last, says the SA Weather Service.
Kevin Rae, assistant manager of forecasting at the service, says there have been widespread reports of snow, particularly in the south-western areas of Joburg, like Carltonville and Westonaria, and even parts of Soweto.
But it will hardly cover the ground in a white blanket, and will only last an hour or so.
"This is by all means rare," says Rae, explaining that Joburgers experienced snow in 1981 and 1988, at about the same time of year.
The 1981 snowfall was sufficiently thick to allow for making snowballs. Several roads iced over, making it impossible for cars to get up steep hills.
The light flakes are brought about by an "upper air cut-off zone", which promotes "coldness, moisture and instability". In addition, says Rae, the high winds on Tuesday brought a "pronounced cold front" with driving rain, to Gauteng. Some 9.6mm fell in the afternoon and overnight.
The lowest temperature recorded last night was 1°C, and temperatures on Thursday morning are hovering around 3-4°C.
The service says that snowfalls are expected over the "eastern high grounds of the Western Cape, Lesotho, southern Drakensberg as well as the Eastern Cape high ground where it will be heavy in places".
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