South Africa is bracing for a rare and widespread snowfall, with eight out of nine provinces set to experience icy conditions as a powerful winter system sweeps across the country.
Forecasters have warned that the cold front, expected to slam into the Cape early Saturday, could develop into a countrywide freeze by Monday, triggering snow in places that rarely see it. Only Limpopo is likely to escape the chill.
According to meteorological updates from Vox Weather and other sources, the first flurries could dust the Cederberg region in the Western Cape and the mountainous areas of the Northern Cape overnight on Saturday. These include the Nuweveld and Roggeveld ranges, where locals are already gearing up for the sudden shift in weather.
By Sunday, the icy grip will spread to the Karoo's high-lying towns such as Loxton, Noupoort and Nieu-Bethesda, while the Eastern Cape's southern Drakensberg and Barkly East areas could see heavier snow build-up. Farmers and rural communities in these regions are being cautioned to prepare for travel disruptions and possible power issues due to the icy conditions.
Weather models remain divided over how much snow will fall in each region, but all forecasts point to Lesotho getting the brunt of it, with major accumulations expected around Sani Pass. This will spill over into border areas like the Free State and western KwaZulu-Natal.