24/08/2018
MAP FORECAST: The forecast for snow weekend in the Western Cape and Northern Cape remains very positive. The South African Weather Service have released an alert for disruptive snowfalls, so we can expect that many of the high-lying passes in the Western Cape may be closed on Sunday morning. In this forecast, we are going to be a little more specific with snow depths that are expected in various places. As the system gets closer, we are able to provide more detailed information.
The cold and wet is expected to arrive in the western parts of the Western Cape just after midday on Saturday. By evening, we should have our first snowfalls on the high peaks around Ceres, Wellington, Worcester and Paarl. The heaviest snowfalls are expected during Saturday and into Sunday morning, and significant snowfalls are expected over all mountain ranges in the western parts of the Western Cape, including the Cederberg, Hex River Mountains and the Boland range. All areas above 900m from Stellenbosch in the south to Citrusdal in the north, and from Paarl in the west to Uniondale in the east are currently in the zone to receive snow by Sunday morning. As we move further into Sunday, the snowfalls in the east (Swartberg, Outeniquas etc) will tail off, while snowfalls could still persist in the west of the province in the Hex River Mountains, Matroosberg, the Cederberg and the high lying peaks around Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl, and may continue until early evening.
In the Northern Cape, we expect snowfalls to start late Saturday night and continue on and off until lunch time on Sunday. In the Northern Cape, we are not expecting heavy falls like we are expecting in the Western Cape. Indications are that between 3 and 5cm seems possible in the Northern Cape areas indicated on the map.
Talking about possible snow depths in the Western Cape, The Matroosberg Peak currently looks like it will receive somewhere in the region of 30cm to 35cm, with the lower down reception area looking possible for about 20cm to 25cm. Table Mountain is still in the zone to receive around 5cm of snow through Saturday night and into Sunday morning. In the Cederberg, 25cm seems possible at the higher elevations, and 8cm to 15cm at around 1500m. Light snowfalls are possible right down to about 900m in elevation through the entire Cederberg and Hex River Mountain area. On the Sneeukop outside Wellington, up to 50cm is possible on the peak, with 8cm to 15cm being possible at 1000m above sea level.
Lots of rain is also expected at the lower elevations with this system, extremely cold weather and strong winds too. We advise caution when travelling on Saturday night and Sunday morning. We will be posting information as and when we get it and will keep all our social media channels updated with the most current information that we have at any time.
As always, if you see snow around you, or on the mountains nearby, please keep us informed and send us your pictures and videos. Our Western Cape reporting team will be out on the road bringing us the latest news but as it is a large area to cover under potentially dangerous conditions, we rely on you, our loyal followers, to get the news out to the community. Please be safe out there and keep warm.
Aquila Private Game Reserve is a luxury game reserve and lodge situated just two hours from Cape Town. It is a great place for a weekend away, especially when there is snow nearby. http://aquilasafari.com
