Snow alert issued for this weekend

Cape Town - Snow chasers in the Western Cape should get their adventure boots ready, as a favourable weather system will be moving in over the province this weekend with the promise of snowfall on the mountains of the South Western Cape by Sunday.

Storm Chasing reports that while snow looked unlikely earlier this week, things have changed drastically in the past 24 hours or so.

"At the time the main global models were showing freezing levels not dropping much below 2000m, though the latest runs show a much more favourable outlook for the snow chasers out there," an update on the site reads.

Snow Report confirmed these possibilities on their Facebook page, saying: "It is looking more and more probable that the SWC will get snow by Sunday evening, possibly continuing right through to Monday afternoon."

READ: More snow in Autumn shows that we're in for a very cold winter

They added that areas such as Matroosberg can expect relatively heavy snowfall on Sunday night and into Monday morning.

"Areas around Ceres, especially Matroosberg, might get some heavier falls, and snow may lie between 10 and 15cm (and maybe more) at the higher elevations in this area. Some nice rain will accompany the snow at lower elevations," they said in the latest update, along with the following map: 

A second front is expected to arrive next week, covering a wider area, including the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Lesotho, KZN and maybe even the Free State.

Earlier this month, snow was reported by travellers on the Sani Pass in KZN, as well as from AfriSki Mountain Resort in Lesotho. The early Autumn snows suggest that South Africa is in for a bitterly cold winter. 

The South African Weather Service, in their seasonal weather report, warned that below-normal maximum and minimum temperatures are to be expected until the end of May this year. 

After May, a colder than usual winter is expected to be felt especially in the Eastern Cape. Traveller24 reported earlier that a longer than usual winter with bitterly cold, dry conditions, and plenty of heavy frost and sub-zero temperatures can be expected in these areas. 

Going to head out on a snow hunting mission this weekend? Remember to share your pics with us! Send them to pics@traveller24.co.za, tweet @traveller24_sa, connect with us on Facebook or tag traveller24_sa on Instagram