Light snow is expected over the high-lying areas of the Eastern Cape and southern KwaZulu-Natal this weekend.
After the recent snow of last weekend that wreaked havoc on roads between the Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape, the SA Weather Service (SAWS) warned that light snow was expected over the Drakensberg this weekend.
“Weather conditions are expected to change significantly as an upper trough system associated with a ridging high-pressure system at the surface will introduce significant cooling over the escarpment regions of South Africa, extending from the Western Cape up to the southern parts of KwaZulu-Natal,” the SAWS said.
Daytime temperatures are expected to start cooling down over the Western Cape from Sunday, reaching the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal region by Monday.
Snowfall is expected to follow a similar trend; starting in the Western Cape early on Sunday morning and spreading eastward towards KwaZulu-Natal by Monday morning.
“Snowfall is expected to clear up in the Western Cape and western parts of the Eastern Cape by Monday evening. Snowfall will however persist on Tuesday over the eastern parts of the Eastern Cape and southern KwaZulu-Natal.”
Strong to possible gale force winds as well as ocean swells between 4m and 6m are expected along the south coast from Sunday into Monday morning as the ridging high-pressure system moves through.
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport has placed teams on standby and various sectors of government are co-ordinating plans ahead of the expected snowfall.
Hundreds of motorists were stranded during an unprecedented snow storm last weekend that resulted in at least one death.
KZN Transport MEC Siboniso Duma said dedicated teams had been placed on standby.
Duma said the Road Incident Management Systems led by the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) which comprises all key role players on the national, provincial, and municipal road networks were already co-ordinating a plan.
“They are identifying areas where joint operations and co-ordination will be established, covering all notorious roads and areas identified in the past experiences,” he said. Duma said the department's road traffic Inspectorate was establishing a satellite centre on top of Van Reenen’s Pass.
* Additional reporting Karen Singh
Cape Times