Erratic weather trends a worry

Drought in province as snow falls

RECENT erratic weather conditions have caused concern over some parts of the country.

While dam levels still remain dangerously low in some areas of the Western Cape, “rare” snowfall has fallen in parts of the province, including the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State.

Following the ongoing drought, Cape Town residents have been taking the necessary precautions to save and preserve drinkable water.

Meanwhile, residents in another part of the province have started to rely on a limited supply of borehole water to survive. Beaufort West’s Gamka Dam, which is the town’s main water source, has run out of dam water.

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has reported snowfall in parts of Southern Drakensberg, Swartberg, Underberg, Eastern Cape and Lesotho.

Elsa de Jager from SAWS said that snowfall in November can be considered a rare occurrence. According to De Jager, the last time snow was reported during November was in 1995, on the Drakensberg Mountains in KZN.

“Other reported events of snow during November include snow that occurred in Middelburg (Eastern Cape), Harrismith (Free State) and also at Witsieshoek during a cold spell from November 3 to 5, 1939, as well as an event when snow was reported from Sutherland on November 23, 1976. We could conclude that snow occurring during November is actually considered a rare event,” she said.

PICTURE: THEO MUNRO The farm of Graham Koster, behind the Beaufort West mountains.