Snow Watch 2023

06 Jan 2023 02:47 - 02 Nov 2023 11:08 #78241 by intrepid
Snow Watch 2023 was created by intrepid
 
This is the official thread for Snow Watch 2023. Feel free to post pictures, information, questions and reports about the snow conditions in the Drakensberg for 2023. The idea is to keep track of the snowfalls, pool information about where the snow is for those that want to go see it, and simply to have a place to express the joy and experiences you may have had if you have witnessed the grandeur of the Dragon clothed in white. This also serves as a historical reference for years to come.

Historical Snow Watch threads:
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
202​​​​​​1
2022


2023 Snowfall Summary
4 April - Light falls on the peaks of the Southern Berg.
7 May - Light snowfall near Afriski
9 May - Light snowfall visible on the peaks from Champagne Valley
14 May - Light snowfall in the Afriski/Letseng region
19 May - Light to medium snowfall over most of the escarpment
1 June - Light snowfall along the whole escarpment and central Lesotho
12 June - Light dusting reported on peaks of Southern and Northern Berg
28 June - Light falls across the range
10 July - Major cold front bring bitterly cold conditions to most of Southern Africa.  Light snowfalls over the Drakensberg as well as many places across the country including Mpumalanga and Gauteng.
29 July - Light falls over the escarpment peaks of the far Southern Berg as well as the high ground of the Lesotho interior.
12 Sep - Light falls over the Southern Berg
17 Oct - Snowfall reported at Afriski, Amphitheatre, as well as the peaks of the Southern Berg
22 Oct - Light snowfall on the peaks of the Southern Berg
29 Oct - Good snowfall across the Drakensberg, light snow also reported in Harrismith/Van Reenen area..

Take nothing but litter, leave nothing but a cleaner Drakensberg.
Last edit: 02 Nov 2023 11:08 by JonWells.

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05 Apr 2023 07:31 #78434 by JonWells
Replied by JonWells on topic Snow Watch 2023
Well yesterday saw what was probably the first or first convincing snowfall of 2023 with some light falls on the Southern Berg.  

Yesterday's Terra Modis Satellite revealed the remaining snow on the high peaks around Sani Pass, Garden Castle and Bushman's Nek regions:

 

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11 May 2023 07:26 - 11 May 2023 07:28 #78523 by JonWells
Replied by JonWells on topic Snow Watch 2023
As it stands, some wetter weather is forecast to move in over the Berg this weekend (Fri-Mon).  Although much of the escarpment may receive this as rain, at times it may be just cold enough for some snow to fall.

On the higher regions and peaks above 3200m a couple centimetres may accumulate, especially in the far Northern Berg, and also on the high ground of the Eastern Cape.

 

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Last edit: 11 May 2023 07:28 by JonWells.
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17 May 2023 07:38 #78530 by JonWells
Replied by JonWells on topic Snow Watch 2023
Another round of snowfall is looking possible over Thursday night/Friday morning this week.  Models are indicating around 5cm to fall over most areas of the escarpment.  

In the far South freezing levels may drop low enough for some snow to make it below 2500m in places:

 

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31 May 2023 11:56 #78536 by ASL-Bivak#
Replied by ASL-Bivak# on topic Snow Watch 2023

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 really! Mountain-forcast.com is forecasting 1cm of snow tonight at the top of Giants...

It's been a bit sad this winter so far, but I'm really hoping for some big snow dumps in the next few months! 

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31 May 2023 12:37 #78537 by Smurfatefrog
Replied by Smurfatefrog on topic Snow Watch 2023
It snowed last night, in the southern berg at least
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01 Jun 2023 08:20 - 01 Jun 2023 08:22 #78538 by JonWells
Replied by JonWells on topic Snow Watch 2023
Indeed, yesterdays satellite image shows that most of the escarpment received some snow, as well as parts of central Lesotho.

From pics seen on social media the snowfall was very light, so will likely disappear fairly quickly.

This was snowfall #6 for the year, snow in light blue:

 

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Last edit: 01 Jun 2023 08:22 by JonWells.
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28 Jun 2023 08:05 #78549 by JonWells
Replied by JonWells on topic Snow Watch 2023
Another round of snowfall is expected of most of the Drakensberg during the course of today and tonight.  Only light snow is forecast with the exception of parts of the far Northern Berg where 15cm+ may be possible:

 

 

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04 Jul 2023 15:50 - 04 Jul 2023 15:54 #78563 by Serious tribe
Replied by Serious tribe on topic Snow Watch 2023
Hi All

I did a solo trip to Bilanjil and Ribbon Falls area last week in the hope of catching the snow that was going to come through.  Which fortunately I did, it was then followed by a day of at leat 60-70km hour wind gusts which was rather unpleasant, noisy in the tent that night and dropped the temperature into the single figures.  May have been in the minus as the Bilanjil froze into pretty ice formations.  I will put some up when i have edited them.  My Tarp Tent Rainbow endures the snow and wind.

 

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Last edit: 04 Jul 2023 15:54 by Serious tribe.

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07 Jul 2023 08:08 - 07 Jul 2023 08:51 #78566 by JonWells
Replied by JonWells on topic Snow Watch 2023
A fairly substantial cold front will be impacting the Drakensberg region over this coming Sunday and Monday.  I wont put up a snow map as there is currently a fair bit of disagreement between the weather models on where snow might and might not fall.  Any snowfalls are expected to be light though around 1-4 cm.  Some models are actually indicating that more snow is possible over parts of the KZN midlands than on the peaks themselves.

All models are however agreeing on a very significant drop in temperature with freezing levels reaching 1600m, and possibly even as low as 1200m in the Southern Berg.  This could translate to some of the high peaks dropping to -12C or lower.
Last edit: 07 Jul 2023 08:51 by JonWells.
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