Rare ‘cut-off low’ brings snow to Joburg and other parts of SA
Icy rain, bitter cold and flurries of snow in Johannesburg, Gauteng, and parts of South Africa could persist throughout the day.
An unusual weather phenomenon caused snowfall in Johannesburg and parts of South Africa, with the cold snap expected to continue into Tuesday. Climatologists at Wits University revealed the cause of the rare event, a stationary cut-off low, which brought icy rain and bitter cold to the region. Professor Jennifer Fitchett explained that the system, formed from a cold front over the Cape and South Coast, became stationary over the interior, allowing it to persist over the area.
The flurries of snow seen in the early hours are expected to continue throughout the day, with potential for more snowfall in the evening. While snow in Johannesburg is rare, the city's high altitude often makes it possible for snow to occur when the appropriate weather conditions arise. Fitchett cautioned against attributing this single event to climate change without extensive research, stating that scientists require long-term data to determine if such occurrences are becoming more frequent.
She added that although climate change may be increasing the unpredictability of weather and climate events, it is too early to say whether this particular snowfall is directly linked.
Written by urgent.news from The Citizen's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
