South Africa has experienced an extraordinary snowfall event, marking the first significant November snowfall in 85 years, according to a report by the South African Weather Service (SAWS) on X (formerly Twitter) this past Wednesday.
November traditionally marks the onset of summer across South Africa, a time associated with warm, sunny weather. This week, however, saw the Eastern Cape province blanketed in snow. This unseasonable snowfall follows a similar weather event in September, which caused widespread disruption across multiple provinces. During that event, snow heavily impacted the N3 highway, a critical transportation route connecting Johannesburg and Durban, leaving numerous drivers stranded amid adverse weather conditions.
This week’s snowfall was triggered by a meteorological phenomenon known as a “cut-off low” system. Lehlohonolo Thobela, a forecaster at the South African Weather Service, explained that this type of low-pressure system often brings cold air, rain, and, in certain cases, snowfall to the affected areas.
“The frequency of these systems appears to be increasing, especially in spring,”
Thobela noted. He suggested that both climate change and natural climate variability may be contributing to the rising occurrence of such unusual weather patterns in South Africa.
Snow fell in the Eastern Cape on the Lootsberg pass near Graaff-Reinet this morning. More photos at https://t.co/qs5oMScTA4 #snowvember #snow #africansnow pic.twitter.com/AlmiBydrCT
— Snow Report Southern Africa (@SnowReportSA) November 5, 2024
The snowfall began on Tuesday, particularly impacting high-altitude routes like the Lootsberg Pass on the N9 highway between Middelburg and Graaff-Reinet, as well as the Wapadsberg Pass. Heavy rainfall accompanied the snow, creating treacherous conditions for drivers, including slick surfaces and poor visibility, which further complicated travel across the region.
This November snowfall is the most substantial seen in South Africa since 1939. At that time, regions including Harrismith and Middelburg experienced up to 45 cm of snow, resulting in significant losses to livestock.
Amid the current blizzard conditions, videos circulated on social media depict the N3 highway in the Eastern Cape temporarily closed due to the heavy snowfall, highlighting the challenging travel conditions faced by local drivers. Authorities have been closely monitoring the affected areas to ensure safety, and Unathi Binqose, a spokesperson for the Eastern Cape Transport Department, expressed the department’s readiness to take precautionary measures if necessary.
“This curious phenomenon of snowfall in November adds another damage to already challenging driving conditions in the Eastern Cape, as most areas are affected by heavy rains that have led to slippery conditions as well as poor visibility,”
Binqose stated, underlining the heightened risks faced by drivers.
Meteorologists, including international weather forecaster Jason Nicholls, anticipate further snowfall and heavy rainfall extending into the central and eastern regions of South Africa and neighboring Lesotho. This unusual pattern is expected to persist from Thursday through the weekend, raising concerns of additional travel disruptions and potential risks to livestock and infrastructure across the affected areas.
