Southern Africa Freezes, Rare Snowfall Hits Johannesburg; Summer Snows Slam Northern India, Effort Underway To Rescue 300 Trapped Tourists; + Millions Of Aussies Hit By “Brutal Cold Snap”
Southern Africa Freezes, Rare Snowfall Hits Johannesburg
Southern Africa is enduring fierce freeze this week as a blast of polar air engulfs the likes of SA, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, as well as Angola, Zambia and Malawi.
Coastal regions are struggling to climb above 10C (50F), while at higher-elevations and inland, frosts are proving widespread, with reports of rare snowfall coming out of some unusual spots such as Zimbabwe and South Africa, such as Johannesburg.
Elaborating on the latter, snow has fallen on Johannesburg for the first time in more than a decade–since August 2012.
Temperatures also held low enough to keep the snow lying on the ground throughout the morning, bringing joyous scenes to many a school playground — this would have been the first time many children have seen snow (Prof David Viner take note).
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued several cold weather warnings across much of the country, with drivers told to be careful of icy roads: “Cold weather conditions have battered parts of the country,” read part of the SAWS statement.
Several regions of South Africa are enduring a harsh winter this year, according to local media outlets, with this past weekend delivering an intensification. Sub-zero (C) lows struck Johannesburg and surrounding areas over the past few mornings, with daytime highs of just 4C (39.2F) noted–where the July average is closer to 17C (62.6F).
Regional forecaster Gauteng Weather said today (Monday) will be a contender for one of the coldest days of the past few decades — a situation worsened by the fact that the country is currently in the throes of its worst-ever energy crisis.
For as long as known, South Africa has faced planned power cuts, dubbed ‘loadshedding’. And for a string of reasons, not least corruption, the country’s utility provider Eskom has not been able to consistently provide power since 2007.
The loadshedding has worsened in recent years, with the the average South African now going without electricity for 6.2 hours a day. In real terms, this means many families are having to face this anomalously cold and snowy week without heating, hot water or the ability to cook on an electric stove.
“Snow was observed in the areas such as Soweto, Alberton and Roodepoort,” continued the SAWS statement. Other areas include the eastern areas of Gauteng — Heidelberg and parts of Vosloorus.”
“Severe frost is expected overnight as well as on Wednesday morning. The public is also warned to keep warm during these cold conditions,” added SAWS; farmers, too, are advised to shelter livestock and protect vulnerable crops.
Summer Snows Slam Northern India, Effort Underway To Rescue 300 Trapped Tourists
Following yesterday’s reports or rare summer snow at Skardu, heavier accumulations have been noted elsewhere across Northern India, including Losar in Lahaul and across the Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh.
An “unexpected spell of snowfall hit various parts of north India” in recent days, according to the hindustantimes.com.
“Losar village received an unexpected sudden snowfall as various parts of north India are affected,” the article reports officials as saying. The entire village was covered with a thick layer of summer snow on Sunday:
So heavy was the snow at Chandertal glacial lake, in Spiti valley, that a rescue effort was launched Tuesday to reach 300 tourists trapped up the mountain.
District Deputy Commissioner, Rahul Kumar confirmed that 300 people are stranded in Chandratal and would be rescued Tuesday, weather permitting — efforts began at 0500hrs but were stopped as the snow intensified.
The majority of the stranded are Indian tourists, but foreigners are also present: two from Ireland and at least one from the USA.
District Superintendent of Police Mayank Chaudhry succeeded in tracing the camping site of stranded Tourists over the weekend, and subsequently, a police party, including some mountaineers, managed to establish contact with the group.
The party are thought to be safe in their camp, which is where they’ve been asked to stay until help arrives.
Millions Of Aussies Hit By “Brutal Cold Snap”
As reported by Australian news outlets, temperatures have plunged to freezing levels across the likes of Queensland as a polar front traverses southern and eastern Aussie states, cold that won’t let up until the weekend.
Residents in the sunshine state shivered through readings as low as -7.7C (18.1F) overnight Monday; a plunge that made for the coldest July readings in years across the likes of Applethorpse (-4.7C/23.5F) and Warwick (-2.3C/27.9F).
Many woke to below freezing temperatures Tuesday, including Canberra residents (-2C/28.4F).
“Lots of windy weather making its way through, all to do with this cold front that continues to push eastwards as we head through the day today,” said Sky News Meteorologist Bradlyn Oakes.
“Severe weather warnings for areas in Tasmania (remain) where we’re going to continue see damaging winds go through.”
The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting upcoming lows of 7C (44.6F) for Syndey, with Melbourne and Hobart expecting similarly anomalous readings; Melbourne will hold cold until at least Thursday, too, enduring unusual lows of 9C (48.2F).
“This high pressure area that stretches out across the country will lead to cool conditions across our mornings,” explained Oakes. “As the high pressure just sticks around, our mornings are going to be chilly and frosty … Widespread frost is expected on Wednesday morning from Western Australia through to our eastern states.”
The bureau has also issued a alerts to farmers during this polar blast.
“Sheep graziers are warned that cold temperatures and easterly winds are expected during Wednesday. There is a risk of losses of lambs and sheep exposed to these conditions.”
At the same time NASA is reporting on the highest temperatures ever and slow Antarctic ice building. It’s hard to make sense of it all.
https://earthsky.org/earth/record-highs-at-sea-and-on-land-and-a-shocking-decline-in-antarctic-ice/?mc_cid=249814853f
And the WHO is being ripped Left & Right by many.
People are coming to the conclusion that the AGW ‘people’ are lying thru their DENTURES!
They’re lying just like they lied about covid how many times do you need to be lied to by known Liars with an agenda before you have a little bit of discernment
The Antarctic is gaining ice like crazy except in the underwater volcano melt area…
Correction please!
We all know that the electronic probes are 1.2F too warm. Here are the corrections:
As reported by Australian news outlets, temperatures have plunged to freezing levels across the likes of Queensland as a polar front traverses southern and eastern Aussie states, cold that won’t let up until the weekend.
Residents in the sunshine state shivered through readings as low as -8.4C (17F) overnight Monday; a plunge that made for the coldest July readings in years across the likes of Applethorpse (-5.4C/22.3F) and Warwick (-3.0C/26.7F).
Many woke to below freezing temperatures Tuesday, including Canberra residents (-2.7C/28.2F).
“Lots of windy weather making its way through, all to do with this cold front that continues to push eastwards as we head through the day today,” said Sky News Meteorologist Bradlyn Oakes.
“Sheep graziers are warned that cold temperatures and easterly winds are expected during Wednesday. There is a risk of losses of lambs and sheep exposed to these conditions.”
Also I don’t buy ANYTHING from the latest DMI. They suddenly show that Greenland has lost a bunch of ice ever since early July? BS!
Don’t buy into it – they were covering up record growth of Greenland ice before in years past. Also after a very snowy June, there’s no way that this is possible. The ice is more than likely significantly above average as I speak, July 11th. Don’t buy the BS from the DMI this month. Someone must have bought and paid them to lie this month??????
Suspicion is healthy.
Acc. SMB still holding well-above mean though: http://polarportal.dk/fileadmin/polarportal/surface/SMB_curves_LA_EN_20230710.png
re: the DMI….even if it is accurate the area above the current measurement line and below the average is dwarfed by the contrasting area during June.
Hi Cap, I appreciate all your information. I wonder if you can give us a forecast. Is this solar minimum going to segue into several decades of freezing weather, or will there be a recovery first, with solar activity picking up before the big freeze kicks in? Some sources say we are already in the GSM, which will run until at least 2050. It’s cold in NZ, but I’ve seen worse in the last 20 years. Do you have a prediction, or is a matter of wait and see? Cheers, James.
We are not in a solar minimum. This year’s sunspot activity already surpasses the last 11 year solar cycle.
A very different mix of weather in Sydney.
When the jet stream is over parts of Australia, the weather is much colder than normal.
Were having days in the middle of winter in the high teens degrees celsius or low twenties, with nor easters. Shouldnt be either of these this time of year. Should be SE-SW-W. And temps no lower than 16 degrees celsius throughout the day.
And as reported above, supposedly the hottest week of the year.
The lies and deceit are very old now.
Or is it that some can actually feel whats really going on by actually using their senses which never lie.
https://www.weatherzone.com.au/news/uncharted-climate-territory-as-earth-posts-hottest-week-on-record/1382889
According to our newspapers, Sicily and Sardinia would have the highest temperatures ever recorded. Until 48!!!!! degrees C.
Reality: 34°C.
Would you believe them ever?
NEVER.
But they’re so naive to believe that everyone will fall for their consistent drivel.
Earth is 4.5 Billion years old and has experienced 4 ice ages, some individually estimated to lasting 200,000 plus years and humans were not even present in most of them. To elaborate on a needle point instant in time such as, the last 10 years, is like looking at the end of a sharp point of a needle. To not recognize the overall geological history of our planet earth in relations to present geological times, when similar weather changes has historically changed the earths landscape environment during this 4.5 billion years, is a tragic situation that should question the real intelligence of humans by using deliberate instrumented ignorance and arrogance as some sort of definition of some intelligence.