Warnings have been given for disruptive snow (orange level 6 warning) and disruption to services with temporary cut-off of communities over the north-eastern high-ground of the Eastern Cape to occur later today.
This is according to Snow Report, the SA Weather Bureau and others.
Disruptive snow could result in icy roads resulting in complicated driving, and the closure of some mountain passes for a short period of time in the high ground. Snow is likely in places like EC areas of Nieu-Bethesda, Graaff-Reinet, Cradock, Somerset East, Molteno, Dordrecht, Barkly East and Hogsback, but areas such as Elliot, Ugie, Maclear and Matatiele are currently also indicated to get fairly significant snowfall.
Bitterly cold daytime temperatures of 4 to 8°C can be expected over the high-lying areas of the EC, the eastern Free State, and the interior of KwaZulu-Natal, where widespread snowfall is likely. temperatures are expected to arise from Saturday and Sunday.
There are also snow indications and disruptive snowfalls indicated for other areas in South Africa, plus Lesotho and Swaziland, including parts of the N3 between Johannesburg and Durban either from early on Friday or later tomorrow, depending on data sources. Van Reenen, Newcastle, Vryheid, Mooi River, Rosetta, Nottingham Road in KwaZulu-Natal could also get snow.
Sani Pass is likely to get low-level snowfall, and the towns of Himeville, Underberg, Franklin, Swartberg and Kokstad in the Southern Drakensberg region may also receive light dustings or heavier snowfalls. Sani Pass is not going to be drive-able according to current data and many roads across Lesotho are likely to be challenging or completely closed
Plus Mpumalanga areas of Graskop, Lydenburg, Dullstroom, Secunda, Ermelo, Lothair, Amersfoort, Volksrust, Standerton, Kriel could receive some snow.
Free State areas of Bloemfontein, Memel, Warden, Harrismith, Reitz, Petrus Steyn, Clarens, Bethlehem, Ladybrand, Thaba Nchu, Heilbron, Villiers, Reddersburg, Zastron and Trompsburg are also likely to get snow.
Only light snowfall is anticipated for the Western Cape peaks and the Swartberg range, as well as Sutherland and Fraserburg in the Northern Cape.
Snow falls are most likely to be under 10 cms but there could be falls up to 30cm of snow in some areas such as the border between the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal.
