Snowfall expected across South Africa, Lesotho and Namibia

7 September 2023 [updated 10 September 2023]
By Staff Writer



Low-level snowfall is expected for the Western Cape and the Northern Cape from Sunday and into Monday, as well as for parts of the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and possibly the Free State on Monday and early Tuesday. Lesotho and Namibia are on the radar for possible snow.

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) have warned of the possibility of disruptive snowfall over the northern high-lying areas of the Eastern Cape and south-western high-ground of KZN mainly later in the day, and the southern and south-western high-lying areas of the Northern Cape and the western high-ground of the Western Cape for most of the day.

See further down the page for more detailed regional maps.

More than 10cm of low-level snowfall that would be reachable via normal vehicles is possible, with the freezing level dropping as low as 1100m in the west by early Sunday evening according to current data. The level indicated by the current data, backed up by warning now from SAWS, suggests driving may be challenging on some high mountain passes by Monday. More than 20cm of accummulated snowfall is possible on some of the highest peaks in the Western Cape.

In the Western Cape, snowfall is currently indicated around Franschhoek, Wellington, the Cederberg and Koue Bokkeveld, Tulbagh, Ceres, De Doorns, Worcester, Robertson, Montagu and Swellendam, as well as on the Swartberg range near Ladismith, Calitzdorp, Oudtshoorn, Prince Albert, De Rust, Beaufort West and Uniondale. Table Mountain in Cape Town is on the radar for light snow too.

Light snow is currently also possible again for Namibia around Spitzkop and Aus, as well as to the east as per the map (see detailed map below).

In the Northern Cape light snow is indicated by Monday for Sutherland, Calvinia, Fraserburg, Loxton and Noupoort as well as the high-ground around Leliefontein and Springbok.

In the Eastern Cape the high ground around Graaff-Reinet, Nieu-Bethesda, Cradock, Somerset East, Dordrecht, Molteno, Rhodes, Barkly East, Maclear, Matatiele and Hogsback currently look set to see some snow by Monday.

In KwaZulu-Natal snow is currently possible for the high ground around Kokstad, Swartberg, Underberg, Himeville, Bulwer, Impendle, Nottingham Road, Mooi River and Van Reenen. Sani Pass is also currently in the snow zone for Monday.

Light snow or flurries might be possible for the high ground around Harrismith in the Free State.

The map indicates where SnowReportSA is seeing the possibility of snow, but it may not fall in all of the areas shown on the map. As with any forecast of any kind (temperature, clouds, rain, wind), what eventually happens may or may not be similar to the forecast.

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Heavy snowfall indicated for the Western Cape peaks on the map above.

Mostly light snowfall possible for the areas on the map above.

Light snowfall possible for the areas on the map above.

Very light snowfall possible for Namibia.