CLAIM: Oooh Shucks its (sic) snowed in some parts of Bulawayo: ka snow ‘nyana’ (a little snow)
SOURCE: Post on Instagram
VERDICT: False
The past weekend saw some low temperatures in some parts of Zimbabwe and South Africa. For parts of South Africa, low temperatures would be an understatement. At least for this part of the world.
Unseasonably late snowstorms hit parts of South Africa over the weekend, reportedly killing two people and forcing the closure of some of the country’s major highways.
Reports are that the 2 people died of hypothermia, after being stuck in their cars due to the snowfall.
Although the cold spell did cross the border into Zimbabwe, it was not to the extent being alleged on social media.
Posts on X, Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp circulated a picture purportedly showing snow fall in How Mine, a few kilometres outside the city of Bulawayo.
One post claimed, ‘Hanzi yadonha mbijana kuMatebeleland (They say it snowed a bit in Matabeleland)’.
Another read, ‘Did it snow in Bulawayo and Matebeleland South? 😳’.
On Instagram, the post was, ‘It look (sic) like there was some snow ‘nyana’ (a little) in Bulawayo. [slide] for video. Our neighbors in South Africa were heavily affected following heavy snowfall which caused major disruptions in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province on Saturday’.
Exotic as a little snow would probably seem to the Matabeleland region, forget the possibility of a ‘white’ Christmas. At least for now. It did not snow in Bulawayo over the weekend.
The picture being circulated is an old one from 2023.
It might be true that if it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck; but if it looks like snow, it is not necessarily snow. In this case, it was a hail storm.
Has Bulawayo ever had a snowstorm, no. Temperatures generally need to be below 2 degrees for snow to fall. Temperatures around Bulawayo over the weekend only went as low as 9 degrees.
Fun fact: While snowstorms rely heavily on temperature, it is not necessarily the temperature felt on the ground. Snow forms when the atmospheric temperature is at or below freezing (0°C or 32°F). If the ground temperature is at or below freezing, the snow will reach the ground.
But it is not enough for the temperatures to be low. Moisture is also needed.
Because snow formation requires moisture, very cold but very dry areas may rarely receive snow. Antarctica’s Dry Valleys, for instance, form the largest ice-free portion of the continent. The Dry Valleys are quite cold but have very low humidity, and strong winds help wick any remaining moisture from the air. As a result, this extremely cold region receives little snow.
What to do if caught up in a snow storm
While this is a question FactCheckZW never thought it would have to address, the deaths of two people in South Africa, suggests that it’s not as far fetched as it would have been decades ago.
When driving in a snowstorm, not only could you end up with a drained battery or get a flat tire; you could also run out of fuel.
If you are stuck in a snowbank, do not overexert yourself trying to free your vehicle. When it’s safe, check that your tailpipe is not blocked by snow and return to your vehicle to wait for help.
- If you leave your vehicle, you will become disoriented quickly in wind-driven snow and cold.
- Gather up the blankets and clothes you have. Layer the clothes and blankets over the clothes you are already wearing – doing this will trap your body heat.
- Run the motor about 10 minutes each hour for heat.
- While running the motor, open the window a little for fresh air to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Clear snow from the exhaust pipe to avoid gas poisoning
Be visible to rescuers
- Turn on the dome light at night when running the engine.
- Tie a bright colored cloth, preferably red, to your antenna or door.
- After snow stops falling, raise the hood to indicate you need help.
Conclusion
Contrary to social media posts, Bulawayo did not experience a snowstorm in mid-September. Only parts of South Africa did. The claim ‘It look (sic) like there was some snow ‘nyana’ (a little) in Bulawayo. [slide] for video. Our neighbors in South Africa were heavily affected following heavy snowfall which caused major disruptions in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province on Saturday’ has been rated as false. The image used is an old one from a hailstorm outside Bulawayo in 2023.
