Latest news with #MichelleduPlessis
The Citizen
04-07-2025
- Climate
- The Citizen
Look: Snow confirmed in SA and Lesotho
Several parts of South Africa and Lesotho woke up under a blanket of snow today, with breathtaking scenes shared from the Eastern Cape mountains, southern Drakensberg, Lesotho and the Karoo, where the icy weather delivered on forecasts overnight. Pretoria Rekord reports that the snow is part of a broader wintry system, bringing rain, thunderstorms, and freezing temperatures to much of the country. And, Gauteng is feeling the chill too. According to Michelle du Plessis, a forecaster at VoxWeather, the powerful cut-off low and another intense cold front sweeping across the country have already produced widespread showers, heavy snow in the highlands and freezing conditions. While Gauteng residents are enduring bitterly cold weather, Du Plessis explained that the chances of seeing snow settle in the province remain slim. 'Any snow that falls in Gauteng is likely to melt before reaching the ground. More likely, residents will see soft hail or graupel rather than true snow,' she said, adding that the province's elevation is simply too low for significant accumulation. Meanwhile, the Western Cape braces for up to 80mm of rain, and the South African Weather Service has issued a Level 4 warning for disruptive rainfall and possible flooding in the province as the next front moves through. In Gauteng, temperatures will remain below 20 °C today, with showers possible later, a slight reprieve by Sunday, and another cold snap forecast for early next week. Take a look at some of the stunning snow photos from across the country and, keep your cameras ready, just in case Gauteng gets an icy surprise! 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
04-07-2025
- Climate
- The Citizen
Is today the Day Gauteng sees snow? Here's the latest forecast
Gauteng residents are waking up to bitterly cold weather today, with forecasters saying there's a small chance of snow or sleet as a strong cold front moves across South Africa. The wintry conditions are part of a broader weather system bringing rain, thunderstorms, and heavy snow to other parts of the country over the next few days. According to Michelle du Plessis, a forecaster at VoxWeather, a powerful cut-off low combined with another intense cold front is driving widespread showers and icy conditions nationwide. While weather models had shown a slim chance of light snow or a rain-snow mix in Gauteng this morning, Du Plessis explained that the chance of snow settling on the ground is very low because freezing levels remain well above the province's highest points. 'Any snow that falls will likely melt before reaching the ground, and it's more probable that we'll see soft hail or graupel instead of true snow,' she said, noting that global models often misread such marginal conditions.' Meanwhile, the Western Cape is bracing for up to 80 mm of rain, with heavier snow still forecast for the Eastern Cape mountains, Lesotho, the southern Drakensberg, and the Karoo later today and into the weekend. The SA Weather Service has issued a Level 4 warning for disruptive rain and possible flooding in parts of the Western Cape as additional fronts push through. In Gauteng, temperatures are expected to stay below 20 °C throughout the day, with showers possible later, a slight warm-up by Sunday, and yet another cold snap early next week. Also read: Is there an outbreak of Staphylococcus in Pretoria? 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 generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
01-07-2025
- Climate
- The Citizen
Light snow possible in Gauteng this week
Light snow possible in Gauteng this week Light snow is expected in Gauteng this week. If you thought the worst of the cold was over, think again — a powerful cold front is expected to move in from Wednesday, bringing widespread icy conditions across much of the country, with Gauteng in for a particularly chilly week VoxWeather forecaster Michelle du Plessis say the system is supported by a steep upper-air trough that may develop into a cut-off low, setting the stage for maximum temperatures in Gauteng to stay below 20°C — around 17°C in Pretoria — with a strong chance of rain by Friday. And the big question: Will it snow in Gauteng? While only one weather model (ECMWF) currently shows a slight chance of light snow early Friday morning, forecasters warn that Gauteng snow is infamous for disappearing from the models just as quickly as it appears. It's a minimal chance, but one they're watching closely. The SPCA reminds all animal owners that pets and livestock are just as vulnerable to cold weather and snow as humans. With the extreme conditions expected, the SPCA recommends the following steps to ensure animals stay warm, healthy, and safe: Bring pets indoors: If possible, allow your pets to stay inside the home, especially overnight when temperatures drop the most. Use warm clothing: Consider putting a jersey or pet coat on animals that tolerate it to help retain body heat. Provide warm, dry shelter: For animals that must stay outside, make sure they have access to a dry, draft-free enclosure. The shelter should be just large enough to hold in their body heat but spacious enough to allow them to sit or lie down comfortably. Elevate flooring: Raise the floor of the shelter a few inches off the ground using pallets or mats to prevent cold and dampness from seeping in. Add bedding and blankets: Provide clean, dry bedding with extra blankets or straw to insulate against the cold. Protect livestock: Move livestock to sheltered areas shielded from wind and rain. Ensure they have unfrozen drinking water available at all times. Use heaters with caution: If you use heaters in animal shelters, make sure they cannot burn animals or cause fires. Watch for signs of hypothermia: Symptoms include shivering, lethargy, whining, anxiety, and seeking warmth. If you notice any signs, get your animal inside immediately and consult a veterinarian. 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
01-07-2025
- Climate
- The Citizen
Light snow expected in Gauteng this week
Light snow is expected in Gauteng this week. If you thought the worst of the cold was over, think again — a powerful cold front is expected to move in from Wednesday, bringing widespread icy conditions across much of the country, with Gauteng in for a particularly chilly week VoxWeather forecaster Michelle du Plessis say the system is supported by a steep upper-air trough that may develop into a cut-off low, setting the stage for maximum temperatures in Gauteng to stay below 20°C — around 17°C in Pretoria — with a strong chance of rain by Friday. And the big question: will it snow in Gauteng? While only one weather model (ECMWF) currently shows a slight chance of light snow early Friday morning, forecasters warn that Gauteng snow is infamous for disappearing from the models just as quickly as it appears. It's a minimal chance, but one they're watching closely. The SPCA reminds all animal owners that pets and livestock are just as vulnerable to cold weather and snow as humans. With the extreme conditions expected, the SPCA recommends the following steps to ensure animals stay warm, healthy, and safe: Bring Pets Indoors: If possible, allow your pets to stay inside the home, especially overnight when temperatures drop the most. Use Warm Clothing: Consider putting a jersey or pet coat on animals that tolerate it to help retain body heat. Provide Warm, Dry Shelter: For animals that must stay outside, make sure they have access to a dry, draft-free enclosure. The shelter should be just large enough to hold in their body heat but spacious enough to allow them to sit or lie down comfortably. Elevate Flooring: Raise the floor of the shelter a few inches off the ground using pallets or mats to prevent cold and dampness from seeping in. Add Bedding and Blankets: Provide clean, dry bedding with extra blankets or straw to insulate against the cold. Protect Livestock: Move livestock to sheltered areas shielded from wind and rain. Ensure they have unfrozen drinking water available at all times. Use Heaters With Caution: If you use heaters in animal shelters, make sure they cannot burn animals or cause fires. Watch for Signs of Hypothermia: Symptoms include shivering, lethargy, whining, anxiety, and seeking warmth. If you notice any signs, get your animal inside immediately and consult a veterinarian. Also read: Top five hijacked vehicles in Pretoria – Are you driving one? 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
11-06-2025
- Climate
- The Citizen
Freezing winds and snowfall deepen South Africa's winter chill
South Africa's winter turned harsh this week as snow, wind chill and icy temperatures swept across the country. As temperatures plunged around the country, the situation has been worsened by strong winds which caused the real temperature to drop even further. Vox weather meteorologist Michelle du Plessis said wind chill refers to the perceived decrease in air temperature the human body feels due to the flow of wind. Wind chill 'When wind blows across exposed skin, it increases the rate of heat loss from the body, making it feel colder than the actual air temperature,' she said. 'This is because moving air strips away the thin layer of warm air that insulates the skin.' Du Plessis said the wind chill index is calculated using a formula developed by the National Weather Service in the US, which considers air temperature and wind speed. 'For example, at 5°C with no wind, it feels like 5°C. At 5°C with a wind of 30km/h, it feels closer to 0°C,' she said. Du Plessis said the UK was generally colder than SA. 'The UK has a temperate maritime climate under the Köppen climate classification with cold, wet and cloudy winters with an average of temperatures – southern England: 0°C to 7°C; northern Scotland: often below 0°C.' Du Plessis said frost, sleet and snow were also more common. ALSO READ: City Power warns Johannesburg residents as cold weather sees spike in outages South Africa's diverse climate 'South Africa has a very diverse climate. The Cape is wet in winter, but Free State, Gauteng, North West, Limpopo and Mpumalanga are dry in winter.' Du Plessis said average temperatures also vary across the country. But if comparing the coldest places in SA with the coldest places in the UK, she said, the coldest place in the UK was Altnaharra, Scotland in the Scottish Highlands with a record-low temperature of -27.2°C recorded at Altnaharra on 30 December, 1995 and a typical winter low of -5°C to -10°C. In South Africa, the coldest place was Buffelsfontein (Molteno area) in the Eastern Cape, near the Sneeuberg Mountains, with a record low temperature of -20.1°C on 23 August, 2013 and typical winter lows of between -5°C and -15°C during cold spells. Snow in the Eastern Cape, Free State and KwaZulu-Natal A cut-off low system has already blanketed parts of the Eastern Cape, Free State and KwaZulu-Natal in snow. Yesterday was the coldest day of the year in Gauteng according to the South African Weather Service. Temperatures are expected to start easing from tomorrow afternoon. Disruptive snow is forecast in parts of the Free State and the Eastern Cape and wet conditions over all provinces except Limpopo and the North West. Gauteng residents can expect cloudy and cold conditions, with isolated showers and rain in the south and cool weather in the extreme north. NOW READ: WATCH: Tornado in the Eastern Cape? Weather service explains
