South Africa’s Johannesburg sees rare snowfall

By Xinhua

JOHANNESBURG, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Johannesburg, the largest city in South Africa, on Monday experienced snowfall for the first time in more than a decade.Johannesburg last saw snow in 2012 and 1996. On Sunday night, temperatures dropped to minus 3 degrees Celsius in Johannesburg, according to South African Weather Service (SAWS)."A
 cold front caused a significant drop in temperatures over Gauteng 
Province. The minimum temperatures recorded have met criteria for snowy 
conditions," the SAWS said in a statement on Monday, which noted that 
snow was also experienced in Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Northern 
Cape provinces.
 
A pedestrian walks as snow falls in Melrose Arch in Johannesburg, South Africa, on July 10, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Yudong)The SAWS advised the public and small stock farmers that the very cold, wetand windy conditions may pose a risk to livestock, vulnerable crops and
 plants.The Gauteng Metrorail said the snow affected infrastructure and its components, which include tracks, cross-over points and electrical 
cables, forcing them to suspend some trains, adding that the overhead 
wires experienced tension which resulted in power instability and 
failure.