Snow possible in central SA and Gauteng this week
Snow in Gauteng? Weather models are pointing to a rare wintry mix for the province this Thursday as a powerful cut-off low sweeps across South Africa, bringing freezing temperatures and the potential for snow, hail, or graupel.
While actual snow settling in Gauteng remains unlikely due to higher ground temperatures, forecasters warn that conditions may be cold and unstable enough to produce soft hail or snow-like precipitation.
The last time similar weather struck the region, residents reported icy flurries and sleet — and this week could bring a repeat.
According to Voxweather, a powerful cut-off low is developing over western South Africa and will slowly move eastwards this week.
'Expect a sharp drop in temperatures across central South Africa from Wednesday, spreading to the north-east by Thursday.'
It furthermore said scattered showers will spread over the Free State, Eastern Cape, North West and surrounding regions on Wednesday and spread further eastwards into Gauteng, Limpopo and Mpumalanga by Thursday.
Will it snow in Gauteng?
'Some models are hinting at snow over central South Africa as well as Gauteng.'
It explained that while freezing levels will drop, they're not expected to be low enough for snow to settle on the ground in Gauteng, Free State, North West and surrounding regions.
Any snowfall here would most likely melt before reaching the surface.
In the Free State, a mix of rain, snow and graupel – looks like small, soft hailstones – may occur on Wednesday to Thursday.
'In and around Gauteng, where instability values are expected to be high, the models are likely picking up hail or graupel mixed with rain on Thursday rather than actual snow.
'In the Northern Cape, a mix of rain, snow or graupel can occur on Tuesday and Wednesday.'
It also said snowfall that does settle will likely be confined to the mountains in the Free State near Lesotho and the high-lying areas of the Eastern Cape.
Also read: Serial killer fear grips Pretoria as fifth woman's body found in Waltloo
Do you have more information about the story?
Please send us an email to [email protected] or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
3 days ago
- The Citizen
Brace for the chill: City Power urges residents to cut back on electricity use
Brace for the chill: City Power urges residents to cut back on electricity use As icy temperatures grip Johannesburg this week, City Power is urging residents to use electricity sparingly to avoid overloading the grid and triggering widespread outages. The South African Weather Service has forecast very cold conditions until early next week, with temperatures expected to drop as low as 5°C in some areas. With heaters, electric blankets, and other appliances in high demand, the power network is set to experience a surge in usage. City Power has warned that this could lead to overloaded cables and transformers, increasing the risk of faults or explosions and resulting in longer, unplanned blackouts. 'During these periods, we experience high call volumes and multiple outage reports, which may affect response times,' the utility said. 'We ask customers to be patient as our teams work around the clock.' To reduce strain, residents are encouraged to switch off non-essential appliances and lights, especially during peak hours (6:00-9:00 and 17:00-21:00), and to refrain from using multiple high-consumption devices simultaneously. Alternatives such as warm clothing, blankets, and gas heaters are recommended where possible. City Power says it will continue monitoring the network closely and respond to faults as quickly as possible. Customers can report outages via or by calling 011 490 7484 / 0860 562 874. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration!
The Citizen
3 days ago
- The Citizen
Will you see light snow or graupel in Gauteng today?
Will you see light snow or graupel in Gauteng today? Gauteng is in for a freezing day as a powerful cut-off low brings scattered showers, thunderstorms, and the chance of light snow or graupel. The SA Weather Service has issued warnings for severe storms, hail, and travel disruptions across the province and surrounding regions. VoxWeather forecaster Annette Botha said that the central parts of the country will remain cold, with icy conditions and scattered showers and thunderstorms spreading across Gauteng, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga as a cut-off low moves further eastwards. 'Models are indicating a mix of rain, wet snow and graupel likely over parts of the Free State, Gauteng and surrounding regions overnight into early Thursday morning.' There is a yellow level 3 warning in place for severe thunderstorms resulting in travelling disruptions, localized flooding, large amounts of small hail and wind damage in parts of Limpopo, most of Mpumalanga Highveld and central and northern Gauteng. SPCA Tips for Pet Safety During the Cold Snap With freezing temperatures forecast, the SPCA has urged residents to act immediately to protect their pets and livestock from exposure: Don't leave pets outside overnight Make sure animals have access to a warm, dry, and sheltered space away from wind, rain, and cold. Make sure animals have access to a warm, dry, and sheltered space away from wind, rain, and cold. Provide extra bedding and insulation Blankets, hay, or thick bedding materials can help keep body temperatures up. Blankets, hay, or thick bedding materials can help keep body temperatures up. Ensure constant access to water Water bowls can freeze in extremely cold conditions — check them regularly and refill with lukewarm water if needed. Water bowls can freeze in extremely cold conditions — check them regularly and refill with lukewarm water if needed. Avoid short-haired dogs sleeping on cold surfaces If your dog sleeps indoors on tiles, place a mat, towel, or blanket down. If your dog sleeps indoors on tiles, place a mat, towel, or blanket down. Livestock and farm animals Make sure large animals have windbreaks or barns/shelters and are not left in open fields without protection. Make sure large animals have windbreaks or barns/shelters and are not left in open fields without protection. Never leave animals in cars – Just like in extreme heat, cold temperatures can be dangerous for animals left inside vehicles. Also read: Serial killer fear grips Pretoria as fifth woman's body found in Waltloo Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to [email protected] or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to g
The Citizen
4 days ago
- The Citizen
Drysdale Road in Sundowner is slowly collapsing
Drysdale Road in Sundowner remains untouched and on the verge of collapse, five months after it was damaged by severe floods that affected parts of the northern suburbs of Johannesburg. Read more: JRA finally repairs water channel in Bromhof The floods dislodged a fence along the roadside and created a large hole that poses a serious danger to motorists. The damage is especially hazardous due to its location at a blind corner. Despite the risks, the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) has yet to take any action to repair the road. Ward 134 councillor Devon Steenkamp has been actively following up and escalating the issue with the JRA. He emphasised the danger, particularly at night or during poor visibility: 'The storms hit this area, and because of a lack of maintenance, it has now eroded the road. The fencings have gone away, and it's concerning that when the next season of rain comes, don't believe that this road is going to withstand the forces of water.' ♬ original sound – Caxton Joburg North @caxtonjoburgnorth Ward 134 councillor Devon Steenkamp and Suen Kreusch address the state of Drysdale Road. The road is in a terrible condition after it was damaged during heavy rains earlier in the year. 5 months later, JRA hasn't repaired the busy road. #Ward134 #JRA Steenkamp also criticised the response from Kenny Kunene, former Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Transport, who claimed in a written statement to the council that the road simply needed resurfacing. 'That was quite laughable. This situation on Drysdale demands more than a patch-up. The city needs to urgently assess the structural integrity of the road and invest in proper stormwater management systems. Quick responses and long-term planning need to go hand in hand if we are to avoid further collapse.' Questions have been sent to Joburg Water for comment. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration!
