Snow possible for Lesotho and South Africa from Wednesday until the weekend – potentially heavy

By Staff Writer
Published: 13 September 2026

This forecast covers: Wed 16 Sep – Sun 20 Sep


Snowfall is on the radar for South Africa and Lesotho from Wednesday until Sunday this week.

Note that there is also a forecast in-effect for Monday and Tuesday this week – just before this forecast.

Heavy snowfall is indicated for some areas at this stage, but we have only marked where it is over 10cm for now as this part of the forecast may still change.

In the Western Cape the high-peaks around Worcester, Ceres and De Doorns may get some light snowfall on Wednesday. The high-ground outside Beaufort West and the Swartberg range near Ladismith, Oudtshoorn, Prince Albert and De Rust may also get some light snow.

In the Northern Cape the high-ground between Sutherland and Fraserburg is on the radar for light snow, as well as between Loxton and Carnarvon, and the high-ground around Noupoort.

In the Eastern Cape the high-ground around Nieu-Bethesda, Graaff-Reinet, Middelburg, Cradock, Queenstown, Hogsback, Maclear and Matatiele may get light snow, while more than 10cm is indicated at higher elevations around Molteno, Dordrecht, Barkly East, Lady Grey, Khowa (Elliot) and Rhodes.

The slopes of the Drakensberg in KwaZulu-Natal are indicated for snow at lower-levels as per the map, as well as the high-ground around Swartberg, Kokstad, Underberg and the high-ground bordering the Free State as marked on the map.

Sani Pass is currently expected to get a fair amount of snow.

Lesotho is again on the radar for heavy snow, with over 25cm indicated for some areas and potentially way more than this unless the data changes.

Hikers that are expecting to be in the Drakensberg from late next week need to be well prepared for cold conditions and being snowed-in.

This forecast may still change over the coming days and the heavy areas above 25cm will be indicated on the map in the upcoming forecast updates.

ALSO READ: Be prepared for safe winter travel and snow chasing trips.

SEE ALSO: More snow on the radar for Lesotho and some peaks in South Africa on Monday and Tuesday.


The map indicates where we are 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. Snow indicated may reduce or vanish completely in some areas, or the dates and times may change.


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