/ 24 July 2007

Snow and storms expected in the Cape

Snowfall and thunderstorms are expected in the southern and western parts of the country, said the South African Weather Service on Tuesday.

A cold front over the Western Cape on Tuesday night is expected to result in heavy rainfalls and thunderstorms in the extreme south-western parts of the province.

Snowfall is possible over the western high ground of the Western Cape from Tuesday night until Wednesday morning, extending to the mountain peaks of the Eastern Cape.

Snowfall might even reach the southern KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg by Wednesday night.

Very rough seas were expected to persist from Lamberts Bay to East London, spreading to Port St Johns on Wednesday night with gale-force winds expected from Port Alfred to Port St Johns.

”On Thursday another cold front will approach the Cape south-west coast, although it will remain very cold in places over the southern interior due to the previous cold front.

”Strong to gale-force winds accompanied by very rough seas will affect the south-western coast on Thursday, spreading along the South Coast and reaching KwaZulu Natal on Friday.”

The South African Weather Service said very cold temperatures, and even snowfalls on the mountains, were expected again in the Western Cape on Friday.

However, clear and mild conditions would continue to prevail over the central and north-eastern parts of the country. — Sapa