Latest news with #snowfall
Russia Today
11-06-2025
- Climate
- Russia Today
Heavy snowfall grips South Africa (VIDEOS)
Heavy snowfall, strong winds, and freezing rain have gripped South Africa, after a severe cold front moved across the country. The extreme weather has caused blackouts, blocked highways, and damaged infrastructure, local media reported on Tuesday. The Eastern Cape Provincial Government has announced the activation of its disaster management teams in response to the extreme weather system, which has affected the province since Monday. Clean-up operations are already underway in the neighboring province of KwaZulu-Natal, following intense snowfall that led to the closure of key transport routes and inflicted structural damage. The N2 highway around Kokstad and Port Shepstone was shut down. Transport and Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma commended the swift work of road crews and traffic authorities, who he said prevented the accumulation of snow above 30 cm. KZN - N2 Route (Latest): #CITHeist ROAD CLOSED In the Eastern Cape, emergency services also responded to a high-risk situation outside Mthatha, where three children were reportedly stranded in a tree due to rising water levels. SAnews confirmed that rescue teams successfully recovered all three. In a video published on X eyewitness walked in crisp snow. Eastern Cape 🤯😱🥶 Eastern Cape Premier Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane has issued a public warning urging residents to avoid unnecessary travel, especially through mountainous regions and flood-prone zones. He called on citizens to immediately report downed power lines, blocked roads, or other hazards to local authorities. Power supply has also been severely disrupted. According to IOL, citing power utility Eskom, roughly 300,000 customers across parts of the Eastern Cape have experienced electricity outages. The South African Weather Service had issued advance warnings late last week, forecasting a significant drop in temperatures along with disruptive rainfall, strong winds, and snow, particularly in the eastern regions. Meteorologists expect the cold front to persist through at least midweek. South Africa's main winter season spans May to August, with snow typically falling from June to August as temperatures drop below 0°C (32°F). Summer begins around November. The country also experiences regular flooding, which scientists attribute to increasingly heavy rainfall linked to climate change.
News24
11-06-2025
- Climate
- News24
Disaster teams ‘working round the clock' after strong winds and snow hit parts of KZN
Strong winds and rare snowfall over the past two days damaged over 80 homes and 68 schools, mostly in the Ugu District. No fatalities were reported, but four children were injured. Eskom and municipal teams have restored power to most affected areas, major roads have reopened, and d isaster teams are assisting displaced families. Clean-up operations are in full swing across parts of KwaZulu-Natal after strong winds and unexpected snowfall caused widespread damage earlier this week. Although no lives were lost, four children were injured when the roof of a school in the Ugu District was blown off. The four pupils from Alberton Secondary School in Harding, on the South Coast, were injured on Tuesday morning when strong winds tore off part of the school roof. Two of the injured pupils were rushed to a nearby clinic, and the other two, who were seriously injured, were taken to St Andrew's Hospital for further medical care. MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Thulasizwe Buthelezi said the pupils are recovering from their injuries. The Ugu District was among the hardest hit, with more than 80 households damaged by strong winds. READ | KZN battles storm damage; four pupils injured in roof collapse Many families were left without electricity after power lines were brought down. However, Eskom and municipal teams have managed to restore power to most areas, with full restoration expected by the end of the day. Buthelezi praised the quick response of emergency services. 'Our disaster teams have been working around the clock alongside other departments to assist affected communities,' he said. We know this has been a difficult time for many, and we are committed to helping people get back on their feet. Public infrastructure also took a knock, especially schools. A total of 68 schools in nine districts suffered damage, 38 of those in Ugu alone. In Pietermaritzburg, the Mpumuza area under Msunduzi Local Municipality also felt the brunt of the storm, with 31 households damaged by strong winds. Many families were displaced, and disaster relief teams were on the ground offering support. Snowfall and icy conditions led to temporary road closures in parts of the province, but by Wednesday morning, major routes, including the N2 and R56 in the far south, had been cleared and reopened. This is expected to ease movement and allow Eskom to reach areas still without electricity. As the cold weather continues, residents are being urged to stay warm and use caution when heating their homes. Authorities are also encouraging people to stay informed by following official weather alerts.
Reuters
10-06-2025
- Climate
- Reuters
Severe cold front bringing snow in South Africa causes fatal accident, power outages
JOHANNESBURG, June 10 (Reuters) - A severe cold front sweeping across South Africa since the weekend brought heavy snowfall which has led to road closures, power outages and a fatal road accident, officials said. Five people were killed in a road accident along the N2 highway due to the adverse weather, Eastern Cape transport department spokesperson Unathi Binqose told local broadcaster Newzroom Afrika on Tuesday. The South African Weather Service warned citizens late last week there would be a big drop in temperatures this week across the country, accompanied by disruptive rain, damaging winds, and snow over eastern areas. South Africa regularly receives snowfall during its winter months from June through August, with temperatures diving below zero degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit). Snow has been reported since Monday across provinces including Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Free State, prompting closures along sections of the N2 highway that connects the provinces, according to the KwaZulu-Natal transport department. Power utility Eskom said in a post on X that it was "experiencing a high number of customer calls nationally, due to widespread power outages caused by inclement weather." More resources were being secured to ensure prompt resolution to the power outages, Eskom said. The weather service forecast that the cold front would persist through midweek.
News24
10-06-2025
- Climate
- News24
Freezing temperatures grip most parts of SA as cold fronts sweep across the country
N2 highway closed 'to save lives' amid snowfall in KZN, Eastern Cape The N2 highway in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal has been closed due to snowfall amid icy conditions in the two provinces. KwaZulu-Natal Transport and Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma confirmed the closures of part of the N2 highway between Kokstad and Pietermaritzburg due to snowfall. Part of the R603 is also closed. 'I wish to advise motorists and the people of KwaZulu-Natal that our highly efficient team from the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) has closed the N2 due to snowfall around Kokstad and Port Shepstone. To save lives, we have decided to close completely the road between Kokstad and Pietermaritzburg as well as the R603,' he said.
News24
10-06-2025
- Climate
- News24
N2 highway closed ‘to save lives' amid snowfall in KZN, Eastern Cape
KwaZulu-Natal authorities have closed parts of the N2 highway amid heavy snowfall. The closure extends into the Eastern Cape. A number of other roads in both provinces have been affected. The N2 highway in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal has been closed due to snowfall amid icy conditions in the two provinces. KwaZulu-Natal Transport and Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma confirmed the closures of part of the N2 highway between Kokstad and Pietermaritzburg due to snowfall. Part of the R603 is also closed. 'I wish to advise motorists and the people of KwaZulu-Natal that our highly efficient team from the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) has closed the N2 due to snowfall around Kokstad and Port Shepstone. To save lives, we have decided to close completely the road between Kokstad and Pietermaritzburg as well as the R603,' he said. READ | Tuesday's weather: Disruptive snow, heavy rain, cold, damaging winds in some regions The RTI team is working with traffic police from Kokstad and Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipalities to redirect motorists and clear the snow, he added. Duma urged motorists and snow chasers to avoid the area. According to Eastern Cape transport department spokesperson Unathi Binqose, the N2 is also closed between KwaBhaca (Mount Frere) and Kokstad. This is the latest of 'a number of roads that are covered in thick snow'. Binqose said the N9 at Lootsberg towards Graaff-Reinet was also affected and that traffic there was moving slowly under the supervision of traffic officers. The R61 at Wapadsberg towards Nxuba also has slow-moving traffic. The R58 at Barkley Pass has seen continuous heavy snow. Conditions are slippery, and the road is only open to small cars under the supervision of traffic officers. Heavy vehicles are not allowed to go through. READ | KZN on high alert as severe weather warnings, snow and hail forecast In addition, the N6 at Penhoek Pass towards Jamestown has slow-moving traffic. There are multiple weather warnings in place for the two provinces. In the Eastern Cape, there is a Level 6 warning in place for disruptive snowfall over the Joe Gqabi district and Enoch Mgijima (Molteno) and Matatiele Local Municipalities. A Level 2 warning is in place in the Chris Hani district, as well as the Dr Beyers Naude (Graaff-Reinet), Raymond Mhlaba, Amahlathi and Umzimvubu Local Municipalities. WHAT IS AN IMPACT-BASED WEATHER WARNING? How often do you come across news reports suggesting that the South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued an Impact-Based Weather Warning of a certain level and a particular colour-coding? What does it mean? 🧵 — SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) June 5, 2025 There is a Level 6 warning for disruptive rain that could lead to flooding in the Amathole, OR Tambo and Buffalo City District Municipalities, a Level 5 warning for disruptive rain in the Alfred Nzo, Makana, Ndlambe, Kouga, and Koukamma municipalities, and a Level 2 warning for disruptive rain over the Joe Gqabi, Chris Hani, Blue Crane Route, Dr Beyers Naude (Graaff-Reinet), Sundays River Valley and Nelson Mandela Bay Metro Municipalities. In KwaZulu-Natal, there is a warning for damaging winds and disruptive rainfall in the south of the province.
