Throwback: When parts of SA recorded their coldest day of the year
· The South African
South Africa experienced an unusually cold end to October in 2023, as snow fell across parts of the country and temperatures dropped to levels more commonly associated with winter.
On 30 October 2023, snowfall reached parts of the Drakensberg, eastern Free State and Mpumalanga.
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Several areas recorded their coldest daytime temperatures of the year.
According to the South African Weather Service (SAWS), the weather system brought bitterly cold conditions to the eastern and south-eastern parts of the country.
⛈🌩Weather outlook for Monday, 30 October 2023. Cloudy and cold conditions are expected over the central and eastern parts, with
— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) October 29, 2023
Isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers.
Warnings:
A: Damaging winds, severe thunderstorms and disruptive snow. pic.twitter.com/bgHxlTAutm
Which areas experienced snowfall?
Snow fell over parts of the Drakensberg, eastern Free State and Mpumalanga.
The snowfall also affected major roads, including sections of the N3 near Harrismith and Van Reenen’s Pass.
Motorists faced icy roads and poor visibility, prompting warnings from transport authorities.
The South African Weather Service issued Yellow Level 2 warnings for disruptive snowfall in affected areas.
How cold did it get?
SAWS reported that 30 October 2023 was the coldest day of the year in Gauteng, parts of Mpumalanga and the eastern Free State.
Many areas recorded maximum temperatures in the low single digits, meaning temperatures barely rose during the day.
Large parts of the eastern Free State, Gauteng, Mpumalanga and western KwaZulu-Natal recorded maximum temperatures below 10°C.
In some higher-lying areas, temperatures remained below 5°C.
What caused the October snowfall?
SAWS linked the unusually cold weather to a combination of weather systems.
A cut-off low-pressure system developed over the country’s interior, while a cold front and a strong high-pressure system helped bring cold, moisture-filled air into eastern South Africa.
As the cold air moved inland, temperatures dropped and conditions became favourable for snowfall over higher ground.
The combination also brought rain, strong winds and stormy weather to several parts of the country.