SA weather snow

Snow Report SA / screenshot

Watch: Snow falls on Table Mountain [video]

Freezing temperatures descend on Cape Town with light snow falling on Table Mountain.

SA weather snow

Snow Report SA / screenshot

It’s not something Capetonians see very often, and it’s definitely a welcome sight considering the current water woes in the city. The cold front rolling across the Western Cape has spattered some snow on the banks of Table Mountain.

Although widespread reports of snowfall have come from areas like Ceres and Tulbagh, winter hit closer to home for Cape Town locals with snowfall being recorded on Table Mountain.

It’s not a completely unprecedented occurrence, but it surely is something rare and a fine sight to behold. It’s definitely not as much snow as outlying areas have recorded, but Capetonians are excited none the less, to see a tiny white cloth adorn the Tabletop.

Western Cape storm: Houses damaged, roads closed

The cold front which has battered the Western Cape has led to flash-flooding, road closures and disruptive snowfall. The City’s disaster and risk management services have confirmed that at least 4 000 homes have been damaged by the storm.

The biggest storm of winter so far comes at a time when rain is needed most. The Western Cape has been struggling with a severe drought that has finally been pushed back to beyond 2019, thanks to heavy and continued rainfall.

But it’s not only rain which alleviates the pressure of the drought; snowfall in and around the catchment areas provides much-needed relief once thawed out and melted, spilling crystal clear water into the dams.

The snowfall on Table Mountain followed reports of hail in the inner city, with temperatures at ground level dropping to just below 10 degrees.

Motorists have been warned to be extra vigilant when travelling on roads in the Cape Winelands, especially mountain passes which have been frozen over and remain hazardous.

Watch: Snow falling on Table Mountain, July 2018

Snow Report SA issued the video below while continually monitoring snowfall throughout the country. The cold front passing over the Western Cape is expected to bring freezing temperatures to the rest of the country later this week.

Viewers on mobile may struggle to see the video – we are currently searching for a solution.