Snow fell in Johannesburg this week for the primary time in additional than a decade, inflicting a flurry of exercise amongst residents wanting to see the uncommon winter wonderland.

South Africa’s Weather Service confirmed on Monday that snow was falling within the province of Gauteng, which incorporates Johannesburg. Snow was additionally reported over the Eastern Cape.

Parts of South Africa are accustomed to snow throughout its winter months, June to August. However, snow final fell in Johannesburg in 2012 and earlier than that in 2007, Jennifer Fitchett, a professor on the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, told the South African newspaper TimesLIVE.

It occurs “once every 10 years or so,” Ms. Fitchett mentioned. “We’re not an area that has a lot of snowfall and that’s partly because in winter we have dry conditions. We’ve got a strong, high pressure cell, which is why we don’t have any or very little rain in winter months.”

Conditions had been, nevertheless, conducive to snow throughout many elements of the town on Monday, prompting residents of all ages reap the benefits of the fluffy flakes. Pictures and movies on social media confirmed youngsters making snow angels and snowballs in neighborhood parks and playgrounds. For others, life carried on as regular.

Agnes Mideva, a main schoolteacher, told the BBC that her college students soaked up the expertise. “Some of the pupils and I went out to explore,” she mentioned. “Some of them had seen snow before whereas others thought it was raining.”

Ms. Fitchett instructed TimesLIVE that it was uncommon for snow to build up in Johannesburg, the place the snow often melts upon hitting the bottom. “Our snowfall events are usually short-lived, they’re only a couple of hours,” she mentioned. “Usually, our snowfalls in Johannesburg are not more than a day.”

Despite the beautiful look, snow can create hazardous journey circumstances and could possibly be significantly harmful for areas that hardly ever expertise it. The Johannesburg Roads Agency warned drivers on Monday morning to be further cautious and be vigilant of pedestrians. “With today’s snow and sleet in Joburg, roads are congested, and visibility is poor,” officers mentioned.