Cold front brings snow to Johannesburg

Cold front brings snow to Johannesburg

Trucks line up along the N3 on-ramp in Harrismith after snow in the Free State town forced officials to close the major route between Villiers and Van Reenen's Pass. File photo.
Image by: KEVIN SUTHERLAND

Light snow fell over Johannesburg on Monday afternoon during as another cold front baffled people across the country.

The snowfall excited local residents as they updated their status on Facebook and Twitter.

"Incredible weather in Joburg, snow, rain, sleet, hail... keep the pictures coming where you are," Radio 702's Aki Anastasiou tweeted.

A Facebook status read: "It is snowing here in Ormonde! Our whole office is playing outside."

South African Weather Services forecaster Jan Vermeulen said that he had not received any reports about the snow as yet.

He said the icy conditions over most parts of South Africa were caused by cut-off low over the Northern Cape.

Snowfall was also expected in the western high ground of KwaZulu-Natal, the southern escarpment of Mpumalanga and in the north-eastern part of the Free State.

"The snow falls could vary from about four to five centimetres," he said.

About 10cm of snow and 25mm of rain was expected in Volksrust, Mpumalanga.

"We don't expect snowfall tomorrow [Tuesday], it should be cleared by then," he said.

The N3 highway, and all alternate routes at Van Reenen's Pass between the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal were re-opened after snowfall had caused the roads to close early on Monday.

"We have re-opened, but the roads are still wet," N3 Toll Concession company spokeswoman Andy Visser said.

"We are asking all motorists to drive slowly and keep a safe following distance."

Icy rain began falling in the area, during the early hours of the morning and had later turned to snow.

Visser said snow continued to fall at midday, with breaks of icy rain.

Emergency services, police, military and car towing services helped to move all the cars and trucks that were stuck at the path.