BIZARRE WEATHER: South Africa experiences first November snowfall in years

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South Africa experienced its first major November snowfall in 85 years this week, an unusual event as the country typically approaches summer at this time.

·South Africa experienced its first major November snowfall in 85 years.

·The snowfall resulted from a ‘cut-off low’ – a low-pressure system that can bring cold air, heavy rain, and snow.

·Snow might be rare, but it does happen in some African countries like Lesotho, Morocco, Algeria, and Ethiopia.

South Africa experienced its first major November snowfall in 85 years this week, an unusual event as the country typically approaches summer at this time, according to the National Weather Service.

Snow blanketed areas of the Eastern Cape province, following even heavier snowfall less than two months ago in neighbouring KwaZulu-Natal, Bloomberg reported.

That earlier storm had forced the closure of a major highway connecting the country’s largest port to its industrial hub and tragically claimed at least one life.

This week’s snowfall resulted from a "cut-off low" – a low-pressure system that can bring cold air, heavy rain, and snow, explained Lehlohonolo Thobela, a weather forecaster at the South African Weather Service. Authorities considered closing mountain passes due to the snowfall, he shared in an interview on Tuesday.

“The frequency of these systems appears to be increasing, especially in spring,” Thobela said. “Could it be climate change, or perhaps climate variability? They do occur from time to time.”

Unexpected snowfalls in Africa
Africa’s huge and diverse landscapes mean the continent has a mix of climates, from hot deserts to cooler highlands. Snow might be rare, but it does happen in some countries.

South Africa is probably the best-known African country for regular snowfall, especially in its mountains. Lesotho, Morocco, Algeria, and Ethiopia also get snow in certain regions, usually at higher elevations.

Source: https://www.msn.com/en-za/news/other/south-africa-experiences-first-november-snowfall-in-years/ar-AA1tBbxA?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=fcac40d5caca4cbe89afa654dd562fce&ei=14

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