Latest news with #DuPlessis
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Climate
- The Citizen
Snow expected in most of SA's provinces over the weekend
Snow expected in most of SA's provinces over the weekend Eight out of nine provinces in South Africa are expected to experience snow over the weekend and into next week. Pretoria Rekord reports that, according to Vox Weather forecaster Michelle du Plessis, the strong cold front will arrive in the Cape early on Saturday morning, bringing heavy rain to the western parts of the Western Cape, as well as cold, wet and windy weather across much of the Cape provinces. 'This front is supported by a strong upper-air trough, helping to deepen the system. 'Then on Monday, a cut-off low-pressure system is expected to develop behind the front, with freezing levels dropping significantly across the country and snow expected to fall in eight of South Africa's nine provinces.' Du Plessis says the first light snow is expected late on Saturday and overnight into Sunday morning around the Cederberg mountains in the Western Cape, as well as the Nuweveld and Roggeveld mountains in the Northern Cape. Heavier snow is already likely by this stage in Lesotho. Here is what to expect on these days in terms of snowfall: Sunday: June 8 Light snow will spread over the high-lying regions in the Karoo — including around Loxton, Nieu-Bethesda and Noupoort. Du Plessis adds that all models indicate the likelihood of snow over the northern highlands of the Eastern Cape, but they differ in their expected snowfall amounts. 'The GFS model suggests heavier snow, while the ECMWF shows significantly less. More snow is likely in Lesotho.' Monday: June 9: As the cut-off low continues to develop and freezing levels drop further, light snow remains a possibility over the southern parts of Gauteng and the southern Highveld of Mpumalanga. However, she adds that at this stage, only the ECMWF model is showing snowfall over Gauteng and the Highveld of Mpumalanga. 'As we've seen many times before, cut-off lows are unpredictable, and the forecast can change quickly from day to day. 'This means snowfall over Gauteng and nearby areas is still highly uncertain, and it may disappear from the forecast entirely or shift to a chance of freezing rain instead.' Furthermore, Du Plessis says more snow is expected in Lesotho and in regions bordering Lesotho (Free State, KZN and the Southern Drakensberg), with heavy snow likely over the mountains in the western parts of KZN. 'A very light dusting of snow is possible over the eastern regions of the Free State.' Provinces where snow is expected or possible: Western Cape` Cederberg mountains (light snow Saturday night into Sunday) Northern Cape Nuweveld and Roggeveld mountains (light snow late Saturday into Sunday) Karoo highlands around Loxton Eastern Cape Barkly East, Southern Drakensberg, Nieu-Bethesda, Noupoort (light to heavy snow likely) Free State Eastern regions (very light dusting possible) Areas bordering Lesotho KZN Underberg and western mountainous areas (heavy snow expected) Gauteng Southern parts (light snow possible Monday – model-dependent and uncertain) Mpumalanga Southern Highveld (light snow possible Monday – also model-dependent) Lesotho (not in South Africa but included in the context) Heavy snow expected around Sani Pass and high mountains Provinces not expected to see snow: Limpopo: No snow mentioned or expected in this province. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Climate
- The Citizen
Snow expected in most of SA's provinces
Snow expected in most of SA's provinces – latest update Eight out of nine provinces in South Africa are expected to experience snow over the weekend and into next week. Vox Weather forecaster Michelle du Plessis, the strong cold front will arrive in the Cape early on Saturday morning, bringing heavy rain to the western parts of the Western Cape, as well as cold, wet, and windy weather across much of the Cape Provinces. 'This front is supported by a strong upper-air trough, helping to deepen the system. 'Then on Monday, a cut-off low-pressure system is expected to develop behind the front, with freezing levels dropping significantly across the country and snow expected to fall in eight of South Africa's nine provinces.' Du Plessis said the first light snow is expected late on Saturday and overnight into Sunday morning around the Cederberg mountains in the Western Cape, as well as the Nuweveld and Roggeveld mountains in the Northern Cape. Heavier snow is already likely by this stage in Lesotho. Here is what to expect on these days in terms of snowfall: Sunday: June 8 Light snow will spread over the high-lying regions in the Karoo — including around Loxton, Nieu-Bethesda, Noupoort. Du Plessis added that all models indicate the likelihood of snow over the northern highlands of the Eastern Cape, but they differ in their expected snowfall amounts. 'The GFS model suggests heavier snow, while the ECMWF shows significantly less. More snow is likely in Lesotho.' Monday June 9: As the cut-off low continues to develop and freezing levels drop further, light snow remains a possibility over the southern parts of Gauteng and the southern Highveld of Mpumalanga. However, she added that at this stage, only the ECMWF model is showing snowfall over Gauteng and the Highveld of Mpumalanga. 'As we've seen many times before, cut-off lows are unpredictable, and the forecast can change quickly from day to day. 'This means snowfall over Gauteng and nearby areas is still highly uncertain, and it may disappear from the forecast entirely or shift to a chance of freezing rain instead.' Furthermore, Du Plessis said more snow is expected in Lesotho and in regions bordering Lesotho (Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Southern Drakensberg), with heavy snow likely over the mountains in the western parts of KwaZulu-Natal. 'A very light dusting of snow is possible over the eastern regions of the Free State.' Provinces where snow is expected or possible: Western Cape` Cederberg mountains (light snow Saturday night into Sunday) Northern Cape Nuweveld and Roggeveld mountains (light snow late Saturday into Sunday) Karoo highlands around Loxton Eastern Cape Barkly East, Southern Drakensberg, Nieu-Bethesda, Noupoort (light to heavy snow likely) Free State Eastern regions (very light dusting possible) Areas bordering Lesotho KwaZulu-Natal Underberg and western mountainous areas (heavy snow expected) Gauteng Southern parts (light snow possible Monday – model-dependent and uncertain) Mpumalanga Southern Highveld (light snow possible Monday – also model-dependent) Lesotho (not a South African province but included in the context) Heavy snow expected around Sani Pass and high mountains Province NOT expected to see snow: Limpopo – No snow mentioned or expected in this province. Also read: Snow expected in Gauteng next week Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ 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 generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Climate
- The Citizen
Winter arrives with double cold fronts and chilly nights
Experts warn colder nights and frost are likely due to wet soil from recent rainfall. The first of the winter cold fronts moving over parts of the country is a preview of the rest of the season. Vox Weather meteorologist Annette Botha said it was officially winter in South Africa, although some argue winter only starts on 21 June. The first of two cold fronts moving in over the country with chilly temperatures are a taste of what's to come. Cold front a taste of what's to come 'A stronger, more intense cold front is set to hit on Saturday. On Friday it will be windy in the interior with gusting northwesterly winds ahead of the strong cold front expected to move over the Western Cape,' she said. Vox Weather meteorologist Michelle du Plessis said there was a difference between meteorological and astronomical seasons. 'Meteorological seasons are based on annual temperature cycle and follow the calendar, so every three months is a new season,' she said. ALSO READ: SA Weather forecasts cool and fine weather with rains and winds 'Astronomical seasons are based on the position of the earth relative to the sun and use solstices and equinoxes,' she added. Du Plessis said higher rainfall didn't necessarily mean lower temperatures in winter. 'Not necessarily colder overall – but wetter soils can play a role in how temperatures behave at night. Wetter soil from recent rainfall plays role in night temps 'When soils are wetter from good autumn rainfall, they to lose heat faster overnight, especially under clear skies. This can lead to colder nights and more frequent frost, even if daytime temperatures remain fairly mild. 'So while it doesn't mean we'll have a colder winter in general, the risk of frost can increase, particularly in inland regions like the Free State, Gauteng and the highveld, where frost is already common.' Du Plessis said after a wet summer or autumn, the soil holds onto more moisture going into winter. ALSO READ: The cold front is here! Here's how long it will last for [VIDEO] 'That doesn't mean the whole winter will be colder. Temperatures depend more on the weather systems that move over the country and whether we get bursts of cold, subpolar air, but it can make nights feel colder,' she said. Du Plessis said historical climate patterns from the SA Weather Service show frost can occur even in warmer-than-average winters, especially when skies are clear and soil moisture is high. This allows surface temperatures to drop rapidly at night. 'The latest seasonal models are showing above-average temperatures overall this winter. We'll still get those icy cold snaps like every year,' she said. Above-average temps overall this winter Last month, the SA Weather Service issued the seasonal climate watch from May to September. According to the seasonal forecast, the El Nino-Southern Oscillation has returned to a neutral state and will be in a neutral state for the foreseeable future. The southwestern and the southern and eastern coastal areas are expected to receive mostly below-normal rainfall early, midand late-winter. The minimum and maximum temperatures are expected to be above normal for most parts during the winter, with the exception of the southern coastal areas that are expected to be below normal in parts. NOW READ: Get your blankets out: Cold front to hit Gauteng
The Citizen
27-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Citizen
How much your geyser really costs you and what to do about it this winter
As winter creeps closer, homeowners are warned not to fall into the trap of ignoring their most inefficient appliance. Increasing electricity bills show no sign of subsiding but households have been given a way to get ahead of mounting costs. The geyser is last on most households' efficiency checklist. The giant kettle in the ceiling often heats water for an empty house. 40% of your electricity spend Part of the geyser's hidden danger is the convenience of having hot water on demand, as fast-paced lifestyles leave little room for the manual switching on and off of a geyser. Too many will attest to the agony of forgetting to switch the geyser back on, allowing convenience to defeat any commitment to efficiency. A conservative estimate places the cost of running a geyser 24/7 at roughly 40% of a household's electricity bill, with a 3kW geyser costing approximately R9 per hour to heat up. ALSO READ: Eskom tariff increase: Here's how to prevent your electricity bill from skyrocketing Cost-effective stopgaps include timers and insulation with a geyser blanker, but LookSee combines renewable energy and smart solutions to amplify existing infrastructure. 'We encourage households to think about efficiency and the reduction of energy usage before thinking about production of power,' said Executive Head of LookSee Marc du Plessis. 'Plug your geyser into the sun' Heating water in winter not only requires more energy, but maintaining that heat comes at an escalated cost as the water coming into the geyser and the surrounding environment is much colder. Households can change the way they consume hot water by taking showers instead of baths, not leaving the hot water running, and turning the temperature of the geyser down. ALSO READ: Want to get the most out of your solar system? LookSee promises to cut down your bill with its new Savings Guarantee Alternatively, LookSee gives households the power to stop using expensive grid power for their water heating needs. 'The easiest and most cost-effective option is to use the sun — to plug your geyser into the sun and let the sun do the work for you,' said Du Plessis. LookSee's innovative approach to solar water heating does away with the well-known hallmarks of traditional solar geysers: the unsightly geyser installed on the roof, connected to evacuated tubes or flat-plate collectors. Instead, standard solar panels such as you would see on a home solar installation are connected directly to the geyser without any interference to the existing plumbing. It heats the water at source, with no moving parts, reducing installation and maintenance costs and maintains a connection to the main electrical supply for backup power during extended periods of heavy cloud cover. Savings from the start This smart conversion approach to solar geysers is an investment that pairs long-term rewards with a short-term capital outlay that is quickly offset by immediate savings when financed with Standard Bank's Energy Loan. Backed by sophisticated savings calculators, LookSee have established that the savings on electricity bills often surpass the monthly repayment of the affordable installation in households of three people or more from day one. ALSO READ: Insurance companies winning 90% of homeowner disputes – How to ensure your home remains in top shape Early adopters of full solar installations and solar panel-powered geysers have paved the way for the drop in costs of newer technologies, removing all trepidation of renewable solutions. 'It is in the sweet spot now. The quality is getting better and the costs are coming down. The solar geyser conversion is far more rewarding from a net-benefit perspective over time.' Smart solutions are allowing for households to tailor their water heating patterns to the lifestyles of each of the home's energy-conscious occupants. This begins by installing LookSee's solar geyser conversion, which ensures long-term access to hot water while taking a significant chunk out of your electricity bill. Click here to find out more information on LookSee's innovative solar geyser conversion. Brought to you by LookSee.
India Today
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Make it happen: Faf du Plessis' response to fan's suggestion on pic with Preity Zinta
Faf du Plessis had a hilarious reaction to a fan who suggested that he should be cast alongside Preity Zinta in a movie after a picture of both of them went viral after the game between DC and PBKS on Saturday, May 24. Du Plessis and Zinta were seen having a chat after the game, which Delhi won under the leadership of the South African. advertisementThe fan suggested that Du Plessis has got the action hero vibe and Zinta is ageing like fine wine at the moment. The fan said on social media that the pairing has potential and should be cast in either in a sports drama or a royal romance. Also Read: Preity Zinta questions umpiring standards in IPL after PBKS get robbed of a six vs DC The South African responded to the fan and said, "Make it happen."You can see the full interaction below: Courtesy: Faf du Plessis X Du Plessis and DC ended their campaign with a win on Saturday. What Du Plessis said about the winadvertisementDu Plessis said that it was important to finish with the win, as being in the top five was a fair reflection of their performances this season. The DC vice-captain also said that the side missing out on playoffs after a brilliant start is one of the great mysteries of the season. Du Plessis felt that DC lost the small margins during the game with both the bat and ball and that was the difference in the end. "It is really important. We wanted to finish top four, but finishing in top five was a fair reflection on us.""It's one of the great mysteries, we tried to answer that question a few times in the dressing room. Confidence, lack of runs, when you are playing well, you get to win the small margins. Every game that small window of 5-6 overs in batting and bowling and in a big tournament like that it cost us," said Du Plessis. Du Plessis had an indifferent season as it was affected by injury and he managed to score just 202 in 9 matches. Stay updated on IPL 2025 with India Today! Get match schedules, team squads, live score, and the latest IPL points table for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Plus, keep track of the top contenders for the IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap. Don't miss a moment!Tune InMust Watch IN THIS STORY#IPL 2025
