A potent storm system delivered wintry conditions to Lesotho and South Africa in early June 2025. Higher elevations were covered in snow, while strong winds, cold temperatures, and heavy rains impacted lower-lying areas and coastal regions.
The severe weather was driven by a cut-off low, a weather phenomenon where a low-pressure area detaches from the jet stream. This system lingered over central and eastern South Africa and Lesotho on June 9 and 10.
By June 11, the storm had diminished. Satellite imagery from NASA's Terra satellite's MODIS instrument captured the extent of the snowfall. Fresh snow covered much of Lesotho and parts of South Africa's Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces.
The snowfall led to hazardous driving conditions, resulting in the closure of several highway sections. The storm's impact underscored the power of weather systems to disrupt infrastructure and daily life.