Major highway in South Africa closed due to unseasonal snowfall – BNN Bloomberg

(Bloomberg) — An unusual snow and ice storm forced the closure of South Africa's N3 highway at Van Reenen's Pass, which connects Gauteng with KwaZulu-Natal, the country's two most populous provinces.

The snowstorm, which brought black ice and poor visibility, forced disaster response teams to intervene on Saturday. Rescue operations are underway to clear the thick snow and help stranded drivers. Humanitarian organizations are also providing emergency assistance.

“Road users are advised to avoid the affected areas as further bad weather is expected,” Vusi Mona, director general of South Africa’s National Road Agency, said in a statement on Saturday.

A few days before the spring equinox in the Southern Hemisphere, a low-pressure system has brought unseasonably cold temperatures and snow to parts of the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State.

The South African Weather Service has issued warnings of persistent cold weather.

The Van Reenen Pass through the Drakensberg Mountains lies at an altitude of almost 1,700 metres (5,577 feet).

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