Down to ZERO!Temperatures across the country plummet

TEMPERATURES in parts of Namibia plunged to below zero yesterday, as a cold front gripped the country.

Karasburg and Keetmanshoop in the South are predicted to be the coldest towns in the country today, weatherman Odillo Kgobetsi told The Namibian yesterday. Residents there were set to wake to temperatures of minus 2 Celsius.Windhoek was expected to be only one degree warmer with today’s early morning temperature put at minus 1 C.The temperature for Rehoboth was forecast at 0.Kgobetsi said that the chilly weather conditions across southern and central Namibia were being caused by rain and frost in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province.DEATHS At least 17 people – in the Eastern Cape and Gauteng – were reported dead from exposure or in fires trying to keep warm in the icy wet weather gripping South Africa yesterday.Snow has been reported in all the high-lying areas of the Eastern Cape, and more bitterly cold weather is predicted for parts of South Africa today.Most Keetmanshoop residents The Namibian spoke to yesterday said icy easterly winds were worsening the cold.”I’m now 18 years old, but I don’t think that I’ll ever get used to this kind of weather,” said Ricardo Novendo.Yesterday, the maximum temperature at Keetmanshoop was 12,7 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature was minus 1.No rain or snow is expected in the South.Kgobetsi predicted that clouds will move to the eastern parts of the country and only the cold air will remain in the south.Farmer Christine Wulff in the Aus district yesterday said soft rain had fallen on her farm last weekend.Rain was also reported at Karasburg over the weekend.According to a clerk at the Aus settlement office, Mr Kukuri, no livestock losses have been reported so far.Aus is one of the coldest places in Namibia and regularly experiences snow in winter, which causes livestock losses.According to Kgobetsi, temperatures in the South are expected to pick up to 17 degrees Celsius later in the week.* Nampa-Sapa reported that the South African Weather Service recorded 54 weather records in the icy wet and snowy weather this week.On Monday, there another 20.Almost all were for the lowest maximum and minimum daily temperatures in towns across the country.The lowest minimum temperature recorded was minus six degrees Celsius in Welkom, while the lowest maximum temperature was a miserable 1,7 degrees C in Barkly East, both on Monday night.Other towns which also recorded their lowest minimum temperatures included: Carolina (-5,5), Vanwyksvlei (-4,3), Ventersdorp (-3,9), Witbank (-3,7), and Gariep Dam (-3,7).The Lootsberg pass on the N9 between Ge Penhoek pass on the N6 between Queenstown and Aliwal North were both closed due to heavy snowfalls.More snow was expected overnight, while widespread frost was expected over the Northern Cape, North West province, Free State, Mpumalanga highveld and Gauteng.Weather SA said “very cold” conditions would continue today over high ground areas and the interior.By Thursday, a slight warming of two to four degrees Celsius was expected but it would still be cold.* Additional reporting by Absalom ShigwedhaResidents there were set to wake to temperatures of minus 2 Celsius.Windhoek was expected to be only one degree warmer with today’s early morning temperature put at minus 1 C.The temperature for Rehoboth was forecast at 0.Kgobetsi said that the chilly weather conditions across southern and central Namibia were being caused by rain and frost in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province.DEATHS At least 17 people – in the Eastern Cape and Gauteng – were reported dead from exposure or in fires trying to keep warm in the icy wet weather gripping South Africa yesterday.Snow has been reported in all the high-lying areas of the Eastern Cape, and more bitterly cold weather is predicted for parts of South Africa today.Most Keetmanshoop residents The Namibian spoke to yesterday said icy easterly winds were worsening the cold.”I’m now 18 years old, but I don’t think that I’ll ever get used to this kind of weather,” said Ricardo Novendo.Yesterday, the maximum temperature at Keetmanshoop was 12,7 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature was minus 1.No rain or snow is expected in the South. Kgobetsi predicted that clouds will move to the eastern parts of the country and only the cold air will remain in the south.Farmer Christine Wulff in the Aus district yesterday said soft rain had fallen on her farm last weekend.Rain was also reported at Karasburg over the weekend.According to a clerk at the Aus settlement office, Mr Kukuri, no livestock losses have been reported so far.Aus is one of the coldest places in Namibia and regularly experiences snow in winter, which causes livestock losses.According to Kgobetsi, temperatures in the South are expected to pick up to 17 degrees Celsius later in the week.* Nampa-Sapa reported that the South African Weather Service recorded 54 weather records in the icy wet and snowy weather this week.On Monday, there another 20.Almost all were for the lowest maximum and minimum daily temperatures in towns across the country.The lowest minimum temperature recorded was minus six degrees Celsius in Welkom, while the lowest maximum temperature was a miserable 1,7 degrees C in Barkly East, both on Monday night.Other towns which also recorded their lowest minimum temperatures included: Carolina (-5,5), Vanwyksvlei (-4,3), Ventersdorp (-3,9), Witbank (-3,7), and Gariep Dam (-3,7).The Lootsberg pass on the N9 between Ge Penhoek pass on the N6 between Queenstown and Aliwal North were both closed due to heavy snowfalls.More snow was expected overnight, while widespread frost was expected over the Northern Cape, North West province, Free State, Mpumalanga highveld and Gauteng.Weather SA said “very cold” conditions would continue today over high ground areas and the interior.By Thursday, a slight warming of two to four degrees Celsius was expected but it would still be cold.* Additional reporting by Absalom Shigwedha