Big freeze sets in as province shivers under snow blanket

HEAVY rainfall and snow across the Eastern Cape resulted in at least three serious accidents and forced the closure of several roads and passes yesterday.

Snow fell over most of the province, with heavy rain along the coast. Heavy falls were recorded in the Baviaanskloof, George mountains, Queenstown, Grahamstown, Cradock and Graaff-Reinet.

Arrive Alive said the Penhoek, Lootsberg, Wapadsberg and Barkly passes were all closed due to snow.The N9 between Graaff-Reinet and Middelburg and the R61 between Graaff-Reinet and Cradock were closed “to avoid accidents, but Penhoek and Barkly passes were reopened for traffic after the snow was cleared”.

Several people were injured on the R58 between Barkly East and Lady Grey when a minibus taxi overturned. A truck overturned on the N2 between Dutywa and Mthatha, while a car drove into the back of a truck in Graaff-Reinet.

Bitter cold and rain also lashed the Garden Route, leaving deep snow on the high peaks and forcing the closure of the Swartberg and Outeniqua passes.

In Graaff-Reinet, residents woke to a blanket of snow on the surrounding mountains as the mercury fell.

Farmers welcomed the snow, saying it would ensure moist ground until spring.

Lucy Dixon, who works on a cattle and horse farm, said she had never seen so much snow in the area. “Every mountain was covered, even the famous Spandau Kop.

“I heard some farmers say it has never snowed like this since 1977. We have had up to six inches of snowfall.”

Stock farmer James Kingwill said he had not seen so much for a long time. “It is good for farmers,” he added.

The Garden Route weather office warned of very cold conditions for Oudtshoorn, where the mercury is expected to hit -2°C.

George and Knysna municipal spokesmen refuted reports the weather had affected the travel arrangements of the Japanese, Danish and French World Cup soccer teams.

By afternoon, the road between George and Willowmore via Uniondale, as well as the Outeniqua Pass between Oudtshoorn and George, was re-opened. But the Swartberg Pass between Oudtshoorn and Prince Albert, and the Prince Alfred Pass between Knysna and Avontuur was closed.

SA Weather Service forecaster Garth Sampson said more icy conditions were expected.

More than 30mm of rain was recorded in some areas within 24 hours. In Port Elizabeth, 29mm was recorded in the morning. Uitenhage had 7mm, George 26mm, Grahamstown 22mm with snow, Graaff-Reinet 9mm with snow, Humansdorp 15mm and Kareedouw 34mm.

There was a 60% chance of coastal rain and showers today, spreading inland, but likely to clear from tomorrow.

Port Elizabeth temperatures forecast for tomorrow are 6°C to 17°C, Uitenhage 3°C-16°C, Plettenberg Bay 6°C-16°C, George 6°C-16°C and Graaff- Reinet -3°C to 14°C.

Nelson Mandela Bay spokesman Kupido Baron said heavy rain in the catchment areas had lifted dam levels, but there had not yet been enough to lift water restrictions. The municipality would issue a statement tomorrow after the rainwater had run into the supply dams.