Chante Hohip4 June 2025 | 10:57

Rare Southern Lights could light up Mzansi’s skies this week (and Joburg may get SNOW next week)

Have your phone handy this week, you may have the opportunity to capture the rare Southern Lights. Drive with Thando interviews Snow Report Southern Africa’s Richard Le Sueur.

Rare Southern Lights could light up Mzansi’s skies this week (and Joburg may get SNOW next week)

The Southern Lights, Aurora Australis, viewed in Australia. Photo: Unsplash/Graham Holtshausen

South Africans may soon catch a rare glimpse of the Southern Lights – the Aurora Australis. 

While it is usually reserved for the icy Antarctica, an unusually intense solar storm may push this phenomenon much further north.

It may be more visible on the coast and even as far as Limpopo, depending on cloud coverage and atmospheric conditions. 

“It is pretty much like the Northern Lights… It's not generally visible, but you can capture it on your phone with a slightly longer exposure.”
– Richard Le Sueur, Snow Report Southern Africa
“Whereas the Northern lights tend to be more green, here you see it in more reds, yellows and purple.” 
– Richard Le Sueur, Snow Report Southern Africa

Early radar reports also show that Johannesburg may be in for a few centimetres of snow next week.

“We will only know by the weekend if there is going to be a much higher chance of it.” 
– Richard Le Sueur, Snow Report Southern Africa

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the discussion.