This week, South Africa experienced its first major November snow in 85 years. The Eastern Cape province, typically gearing up for summer at this time of year, found itself under a blanket of white.
This unusual meteorological event follows an even more severe snowstorm that hit the neighboring KwaZulu-Natal province less than two months ago. That earlier storm forced the closure of a major highway connecting the country’s largest port to its industrial hub and tragically claimed at least one life.
Lehlohonolo Thobela, a weather forecaster at the South African Weather Service, attributed this week’s snowfall to a “cut-off low:” a low-pressure system known for bringing cold air, heavy rainfall, and snow. The phenomenon was significant enough that authorities considered closing mountain passes.
South Africa is known for regular snowfall in its mountainous regions and is home to one ski resort. Other African nations, such as Lesotho, Morocco, Algeria, and Ethiopia, also experience snow, typically at higher elevations.
