Tuesday 7 August 2012

Snow in Johannesburg!

Despite Johannesburg's high altitude, snow is a rare occurence. The last snowfall was in June 2007 and prior to that, we had snow in September 1981. These are the instances I remember from childhood onwards.

Today it snowed good and proper in some parts of Johannesburg. But it didn't feel like one city - the weather changed every few kilometres that you drove.

I travelled from a sunny 8 degrees Celsius Bryanston into the eye of a snowstorm in Rosebank at only 2 degrees Celsius:



When I arrived in Blackheath, they had already had snow and it was just a typical dark wintry day.

Onward to Westdene and a blustry snowstorm later, I felt as though I was back in Europe. My Austrian relatives who have lived in Jo'burg are speechless at the photos I've emailed them.



Only minutes later the sun came out and melted the snow. With everything still wet it was as though the snowfall had just been a figment of imagination. And then, it all came down again!





After the final snow melted, the wind whipped the water into ice puddles and the mercury fell below zero. Now all that remains is to keep the Jetmaster going and pour the red wine.