From Friday a Cut-Off low and Cold Front made landfall and moved up country over the past few days. Setting tons of extreme weather records.Almost snow over the whole country.Some of which is the heaviest ever seen in areas.And winter hasn't even started yet.
Associated News Reports:
http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Afri ... 42,00.html
http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Afri ... 00,00.html
http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Afri ... 49,00.html
List of records set:
http://www.weathersa.co.za/Climate/Records.jsp
Strong Winter Start In South Africa
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Meso
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Strong Winter Start In South Africa
Last edited by Meso on Fri May 25, 2007 8:16 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Dr. Jonah Rainwater
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Meso
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Re: Strong Winter Start In South Africa
Once again another set of records as it snows all over Johannesburg for the first time in over 20 years.
Delaying flights at Jhb Airport.
Johannesburg - Johannesburg's first real snowfall in more than 20 years and the freezing temperatures that accompanied it claimed at least one life, Johannesburg emergency services spokesperson, Malcolm Midgley, told News24 on Wednesday morning.
The man died of exposure in Noord Street near the taxi rank.
The last time the city had "good snow" was in September 1981.
"There've been a few minor incidents since then in the '90s, in 1996 we had a little bit of sleet, but it was none of the big, thick stuff," Midgley told Sapa earlier.
However, no other big accidents and deaths had been reported. "It's just the normal accidents that happen in wet conditions," said Midgley, referring to fender benders and minor accidents. "As soon as the roads get slippery people forget how to drive."
Midgley said the emergency services had embarked on their winter safety campaign at the end of February, advising people on how to keep warm.
No repeats
He said people who were homeless could line their clothes with newspaper or cardboard to create a wind-breaker. "The wind is what really makes it cold," he said, explaining that the extra layer would minimise the wind chill factor.
He also warned residents in informal settlements to be careful with whatever they use to heat their homes. "They should not leave any of these devices unattended or alone with children."
Midgley described several deaths that happened three weeks ago in townships around Johannesburg, when families had taken drums filled with burning coal into their homes. "It's a two-fold problem," he said. "It's toxic because of the fumes and it uses up a lot of oxygen."
He said six people had died within three days as a result of the practice.
Meanwhile, the South African Weather Service said that the snow in Johannesburg was unusual and would start melting on Wednesday with no repeats for the rest of the week.
"The snow in Johannesburg isn't falling continuously as it is in Bloemfontein and KwaZulu-Natal," weather forecaster, Venetia Magane told News24. The snow had apparently fallen during the night, surprising delighted residents in Vereeniging, Johannesburg, Benoni and Boksburg, amongst other areas, where the snow covered the ground.
She explained that the snow was a result of a cold front associated with a "cut-of-low": a phenomenon that causes moisture to be lifted from the upper to the lower levels.
More snow for KwaZulu-Natal, Free state
"Once you have a cold front associated with a cut-off-low the cold front is very intense, and you have snow and so on" she said. "We've had cold fronts before but it didn't snow."
Magane said that the Weather Services was not expecting any more snow for the region. "We expect temperatures to drop today, but by tomorrow it will start picking up," she said on Wednesday.
She indicated there would be no more snow in the region, but it would continue snowing in KwaZulu-Natal and the Free state on Wednesday, petering off by Thursday.
"The system will exit out of country by Thursday." Residents in the affected areas were advised to stay indoors where possible and keep warm.
http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Afri ... 22,00.html
http://www.weathersa.co.za/Pressroom/20 ... ngSnow.jsp
Delaying flights at Jhb Airport.
Johannesburg - Johannesburg's first real snowfall in more than 20 years and the freezing temperatures that accompanied it claimed at least one life, Johannesburg emergency services spokesperson, Malcolm Midgley, told News24 on Wednesday morning.
The man died of exposure in Noord Street near the taxi rank.
The last time the city had "good snow" was in September 1981.
"There've been a few minor incidents since then in the '90s, in 1996 we had a little bit of sleet, but it was none of the big, thick stuff," Midgley told Sapa earlier.
However, no other big accidents and deaths had been reported. "It's just the normal accidents that happen in wet conditions," said Midgley, referring to fender benders and minor accidents. "As soon as the roads get slippery people forget how to drive."
Midgley said the emergency services had embarked on their winter safety campaign at the end of February, advising people on how to keep warm.
No repeats
He said people who were homeless could line their clothes with newspaper or cardboard to create a wind-breaker. "The wind is what really makes it cold," he said, explaining that the extra layer would minimise the wind chill factor.
He also warned residents in informal settlements to be careful with whatever they use to heat their homes. "They should not leave any of these devices unattended or alone with children."
Midgley described several deaths that happened three weeks ago in townships around Johannesburg, when families had taken drums filled with burning coal into their homes. "It's a two-fold problem," he said. "It's toxic because of the fumes and it uses up a lot of oxygen."
He said six people had died within three days as a result of the practice.
Meanwhile, the South African Weather Service said that the snow in Johannesburg was unusual and would start melting on Wednesday with no repeats for the rest of the week.
"The snow in Johannesburg isn't falling continuously as it is in Bloemfontein and KwaZulu-Natal," weather forecaster, Venetia Magane told News24. The snow had apparently fallen during the night, surprising delighted residents in Vereeniging, Johannesburg, Benoni and Boksburg, amongst other areas, where the snow covered the ground.
She explained that the snow was a result of a cold front associated with a "cut-of-low": a phenomenon that causes moisture to be lifted from the upper to the lower levels.
More snow for KwaZulu-Natal, Free state
"Once you have a cold front associated with a cut-off-low the cold front is very intense, and you have snow and so on" she said. "We've had cold fronts before but it didn't snow."
Magane said that the Weather Services was not expecting any more snow for the region. "We expect temperatures to drop today, but by tomorrow it will start picking up," she said on Wednesday.
She indicated there would be no more snow in the region, but it would continue snowing in KwaZulu-Natal and the Free state on Wednesday, petering off by Thursday.
"The system will exit out of country by Thursday." Residents in the affected areas were advised to stay indoors where possible and keep warm.
http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Afri ... 22,00.html
http://www.weathersa.co.za/Pressroom/20 ... ngSnow.jsp
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