Spring heralded by severe cold front

ELLANIE SMIT

WINDHOEK

With spring just around the corner, another cold front with freezing temperatures is expected this weekend. The extreme southern parts of the country may even get snow.

The cold front is expected to move over Southern Africa in the next few days, with snowfall possible in South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini and Namibia, Snow Report South Africa reported.

According to LandWater, Storm Manulua has now moved through South America and is already intensifying.

“Manulua lands Thursday in South Africa, with an extended impact across several days, several cold steps, with a possibility of a chilled cold front within the same system.”

Land Water however also stresses that weather models could change in the coming days and therefore more time should be given for the “picture to settle”.

Farmers warned

According to the Namibia Meteorological Service, cold Arctic air is expected in the western and southern parts of Namibia on Thursday, becoming very cold in the South on Friday and Saturday.

It warned that crop and small-stock farmers should take the necessary precautions.

Very cold temperatures f below freezing are expected to last until Sunday.

In Windhoek, minimum temperatures will on Friday plummet from 3 degrees Celsius to -4 on Saturday and -2 degrees on Sunday.

Gobabis can expect -3 degrees on Saturday and -4 degrees on Sunday.

At Keetmanshoop, temperatures are expected to drop to 1 degree on Friday, reaching -4 degrees on Friday and -1 degree on Sunday.

Okahandja will also drop below freezing point on Saturday.