[PHOTOS] Snow in Southern Africa Creates Stunning Winter Scenes

Residents in Lesotho and the surrounding parts of the southern Drakensberg, South Africa, ended July with cold, snowy mountains and valleys. After some areas received as much as 40 cm (16 inches) of fresh snow, the region completely transformed into a stunning, snow-covered landscape.

• Related: Afriski, Lesotho, Report: Skiing in the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho

While this weather is happily welcomed by winter enthusiasts and those eager to see snow, it can create dangerous conditions on the roads. The South African Weather Service issued several warnings for heavy rain, snow, and extreme cold throughout the Eastern Cape, southern KwaZulu-Natal, and the southern Free State.

In addition to snowy and icy conditions at higher elevations, lower elevations farther inland experienced the coldest temperatures so far this winter. Although this type of weather is somewhat rare, it isn’t completely unheard of in this region, where the highest peaks reach well over 3,000 meters, so people were quick to head up to the mountains for photographs and videos and to share the beauty across social media.

• Related: Lesotho, Africa, Gets Blanketed in Fresh Coat of Snow

The snow and cold were the result of a powerful cut-off low-pressure system, which is commonly known for producing consistent, unsettled weather for days at a time. With temperatures already warming up again, the snow in South Africa that created a scenic winter wonderland won’t last much longer.