/ 21 May 2006

Icy weather set to continue

The icy weather experienced over the country was set to continue until about Thursday when the days will become slightly warmer, the South African Weather Service said on Sunday.

Forecaster Ezekiel Sebego said another cold front would move in over the Western Cape on Monday night, bringing with it rain for that area, the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. The rest of the country would get very cold weather.

From Thursday the day temperatures would rise slightly, but Sebego said the nights and especially early morning would be freezing and heavy frost was expected.

According to the weather service’s seven-day forecast, minimum temperatures in Johannesburg and over the Vaal Rand area are expected to plummet into the minus figures during the week.

On Sunday the South African Broadcasting Corporation reported that the Lootsberg Pass between Middelburg and Graaff Reinet in the Eastern Cape was closed again due to heavy snow falls.

The road was closed on Saturday as well, but was reopened late on Saturday night.

The Wapadsberg Pass between Cradock and the N9 has also been closed and motorists have been advised to use alternative routes.

Several passes in the Western Cape were also being monitored for rock falls and flooding after heavy rains.

Rock falls occurred in the Huisrivier Pass between Calitzdorp and Ladismith in the Little Karoo and the Outeniqua Pass between Oudthoorn and George. The roads have however not been closed.

Sebego said all the mountains in the Eastern Cape were covered in snow, as well as the Drakensberg.

In the Eastern Free State snow fell around Bethlehem, while snow was also reported in the Matroosberg area in the Western Cape.

The Maluti mountains in Lesotho were also covered in a white blanket. Sebego said more snow was expected over the high-lying parts over the next few days. – Sapa