Home
Weather London
WeatherRadar
RainfallRadar
TemperatureRadar
WindRadar
LightningRadar
Weather News
Editor's Pick
Discover the app
Weather widget
Contact us
Apps
Career
    Home / Editor's Pick /

    South Africa rarity: Snow for the first time in 11 years

15:00
13 July 2023

South Africa rarity
Snow for the first time in 11 years

Snow in Johannesburg for the first time in over a decade.
The city and its surroundings blanketed in snow.
Snow is a rarity in South Africa away from high altitudes, even in winter.
Children enjoying the snow in Johannesburg.
There was even enough for a snowman!
1/5
Snow in Johannesburg for the first time in over a decade. - © dpa

In South Africa's largest city, Johannesburg, snow has fallen for the first time in 11 years.

It might sound strange given it is our summer in the Northern Hemisphere, but it is indeed winter in South Africa, in the Southern Hemisphere.

However, for the first time in 11 years it has snowed in Johannesburg, capital of the Gauteng province. According to the South African Meteorological Service, the last time it snowed here was on August 7th 2012.

Snow also fell in the provinces of Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga. Apart from delays in rush-hour traffic, there were no major disruptions.

Many people were rather happy about the rare occasion of snow, as pictures and videos depict. Even despite the bitterly low temperatures.

In the outskirts of Johannesburg -2°C was recorded, the lowest temperature of winter so far for them. At higher altitudes it was even colder; at Frankfort Aero for example, around 1500 m above sea level, temperatures plummeted to -11.4°C.

Though no records have been broken, there has been widespread frosts in the highland areas and it will continue to remain cold in the coming days.

More on the topic
Colourful skies and scenic clouds cover. Your weather - Your shots. . . Sunday, 20 September 2026
Split image showing a golden sunset over the sea beneath layered clouds and a pink-purple sunset reflected across calm riverside water.
Sunday, 20 September 2026

Your weather - Your shots

Colourful skies and scenic clouds cover
Hurricane POLO remains dangerous. Many storms in the Pacific. . . Thursday, 24 September 2026
Thursday, 24 September 2026

Many storms in the Pacific

Hurricane POLO remains dangerous
Severe weather rolls on in Europe. Heavy rain and hail. . . Thursday, 17 September 2026
Weather radar showing severe thunderstorms and frequent lightning over northern Italy.
Thursday, 17 September 2026

Heavy rain and hail

Severe weather rolls on in Europe
All weather news
This might also interest you
Historic Storm Éowyn arrives. On this day.... . . Saturday, 24 January 2026
Split image showing a person in a yellow jacket struggling against strong winds and heavy rain on a street at night on the left, and an Irish wind forecast map on the right with red and purple shading, gusts up to 75 mph, and a wind warning icon, divided by a curved white line.
Saturday, 24 January 2026

On this day...

Historic Storm Éowyn arrives
Bright and warm conditions take hold. Spring-like outlook. . . Thursday, 23 April 2026
Split UK map showing warm temperatures up to 21 degrees in orange on the left and clear sunny conditions with temperatures from 12 to 18 degrees on the right, with sun icons across the country.
Thursday, 23 April 2026

Spring-like outlook

Bright and warm conditions take hold
Long-term trends need a pinch of salt. 40 °C in July?. . . Tuesday, 30 June 2026
Temperature radar of 2022 heatwave where the all-time temperature record in the UK was set. Warning symbol overlain.
Tuesday, 30 June 2026

40 °C in July?

Long-term trends need a pinch of salt
All articles
Weather & Radar

Weather & Radar is also available on

Google Play StoreApp Store

Company

Contact us Privacy Policy Legal info Accessibility statement

Services

Uploader

Socials

facebooktwittertikToklinkList