APA-Johannesburg (South Africa) Residents of several parts of South Africa’s Gauteng province woke up to snow cover as a cold front hit the country on Monday, according to weather experts.
Describing Monday as “one of the coldest days of the past 12 years,” the South African Weather Service (SAWS) said snow fell overnight in parts of Eastern Cape, Gauteng and West Cape provinces, while western parts of KwaZulu-Natal region are expected to experience heavy snowfall later in the day.
It warned that a cold front had caused a significant drop in temperatures over Gauteng and other parts of the country, with maximum temperatures in Gauteng expected to be between 9 and 13°C on Monday.
“A cold front caused a significant drop in temperatures over today, Monday, 10 July 2023. The maximum temperatures are expected to reach 13°C in the northern areas of Gauteng, with minimum temperatures recorded to have met criteria for snowy conditions,” SAWS said.
Johannesburg is home to South Africa’s administrative capital Pretoria and commercial hub Johannesburg.
Snow was observed over areas in southern Gauteng such as Soweto, Alberton and Roodepoort as well as over high-lying areas of the Western Cape such as the Ceres mountains and in Stellenbosch.
Snow also fell overnight in parts of the Eastern Cape, with SAWS warning drivers to be cautious while driving in mountainous areas in the region.
JN/APA