Latest news with #icyconditions
News24
2 days ago
- Climate
- News24
N2 highway closed ‘to save lives' amid snowfall in KZN, Eastern Cape
KwaZulu-Natal authorities have closed parts of the N2 highway amid heavy snowfall. The closure extends into the Eastern Cape. A number of other roads in both provinces have been affected. The N2 highway in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal has been closed due to snowfall amid icy conditions in the two provinces. KwaZulu-Natal Transport and Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma confirmed the closures of part of the N2 highway between Kokstad and Pietermaritzburg due to snowfall. Part of the R603 is also closed. 'I wish to advise motorists and the people of KwaZulu-Natal that our highly efficient team from the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) has closed the N2 due to snowfall around Kokstad and Port Shepstone. To save lives, we have decided to close completely the road between Kokstad and Pietermaritzburg as well as the R603,' he said. READ | Tuesday's weather: Disruptive snow, heavy rain, cold, damaging winds in some regions The RTI team is working with traffic police from Kokstad and Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipalities to redirect motorists and clear the snow, he added. Duma urged motorists and snow chasers to avoid the area. According to Eastern Cape transport department spokesperson Unathi Binqose, the N2 is also closed between KwaBhaca (Mount Frere) and Kokstad. This is the latest of 'a number of roads that are covered in thick snow'. Binqose said the N9 at Lootsberg towards Graaff-Reinet was also affected and that traffic there was moving slowly under the supervision of traffic officers. The R61 at Wapadsberg towards Nxuba also has slow-moving traffic. The R58 at Barkley Pass has seen continuous heavy snow. Conditions are slippery, and the road is only open to small cars under the supervision of traffic officers. Heavy vehicles are not allowed to go through. READ | KZN on high alert as severe weather warnings, snow and hail forecast In addition, the N6 at Penhoek Pass towards Jamestown has slow-moving traffic. There are multiple weather warnings in place for the two provinces. In the Eastern Cape, there is a Level 6 warning in place for disruptive snowfall over the Joe Gqabi district and Enoch Mgijima (Molteno) and Matatiele Local Municipalities. A Level 2 warning is in place in the Chris Hani district, as well as the Dr Beyers Naude (Graaff-Reinet), Raymond Mhlaba, Amahlathi and Umzimvubu Local Municipalities. WHAT IS AN IMPACT-BASED WEATHER WARNING? How often do you come across news reports suggesting that the South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued an Impact-Based Weather Warning of a certain level and a particular colour-coding? What does it mean? 🧵 — SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) June 5, 2025 There is a Level 6 warning for disruptive rain that could lead to flooding in the Amathole, OR Tambo and Buffalo City District Municipalities, a Level 5 warning for disruptive rain in the Alfred Nzo, Makana, Ndlambe, Kouga, and Koukamma municipalities, and a Level 2 warning for disruptive rain over the Joe Gqabi, Chris Hani, Blue Crane Route, Dr Beyers Naude (Graaff-Reinet), Sundays River Valley and Nelson Mandela Bay Metro Municipalities. In KwaZulu-Natal, there is a warning for damaging winds and disruptive rainfall in the south of the province.
RNZ News
5 days ago
- Climate
- RNZ News
Road closures for parts of State Highway 8 and State Highway 80 due to snowfall
State Highway 8 between Twizel and Fairlie and State Highway 80 between Lake Pukaki and Aoraki/Mt Cook will be closed to motorists because of extremely icy conditions. Photo: Supplied / New Zealand Transport Agency Two areas of state highway in the Mackenzie Country will be closed again on Saturday night due to dangerous driving conditions caused by snowfall. New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) said State Highway 8 between Twizel and Fairlie and State Highway 80 between Lake Pukaki and Aoraki/Mt Cook would be closed to motorists because of extremely icy conditions caused by snow flurries, snow melt and freezing temperatures. Crews would be working on the roads, breaking up ice and spreading grit, NZTA said. A decision would be made in the morning about when the roads would open again. On Friday night, motorists were stranded in Lindis Pass when sections of SH8 became blocked by snowfall, prompting a rescue mission. Firefighters were called as a polar blast struck Canterbury and Otago, dumping up to a metre in some areas. The occupants of five cars and a couple of trucks had to abandon their vehicles and were taken to Tekapo for the night, with specialist Fire and Emergency vehicles being used to extract the vehicles. The motorists were reunited with their vehicles Saturday morning. Elsewhere, SH73 from Otira to Springfield (Arthur's Pass and Porters Pass) and SH85 from Kyeburn to Palmerston were both re-opened earlier on Saturday. A slip at Gorge Stream on SH7 was now clear, meaning the highway from Hanmer Springs to Springs Junction had been re-opened. State Highway 87 between Mosgiel and Kyeburn was also open. Fears of an extreme cold snap did not eventuate, despite chilly temperatures around the motu. The country went into the latter part of the week with almost two dozen weather warnings in place, but rain eased on Friday in Tāupo and the Bay of Plenty, and the South Island avoided heavy snowfall. On Saturday, a strong wind watch was issued for the Chatham Islands through to Sunday due to a nearby deep low, bringing northerly gales. MetService meteorologist Sylvia Martino told RNZ Dunedin Airport and Takapō took out the chilliest spots, at minus five overnight, while Christchurch dropped to minus one. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
