South Africa's Johannesburg sees rare snowfall on Monday

JOHANNESBURG, July 10 (Xinhua)

South Africa's Johannesburg, the largest city in the country, experienced snowfall on Monday.

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.

The SAWS advised the public and small stock farmers that the very cold, wet and 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.

Courtesy ; Xinhua