Snow Blankets Parts of South Africa

Posted July 26th, 2011 at 11:55 am (UTC-5)
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Unusually heavy snow fell over large sections of eastern South Africa on Monday and Tuesday, stranding motorists, closing roads and stopping trains.

Most areas reported three to five centimeters but heavier amounts were reported in higher elevations.

Reuters news agency reports that in some areas, the snowfall reached 60 centimeters.

A National Weather Service forecaster told the agency that snow is not unheard of in South Africa but “is usually not this extreme.”

Forecasters say more snow or sleet is possible Tuesday night and Wednesday but that so far, the snow has bypassed Johannesburg.