Heavy snow fell over eastern South Africa and Lesotho during the final week of July 2004. As can be seen in the above Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) image, acquired on July 29, by the Aqua satellite, the snow extended much further than the peaks of the mountains where it typically falls during the Southern Hemisphere�s winter. The spine of the mountain range is highlighted by the snow, forming a slanted question mark against the brown winter landscape. The unusual snowfall trapped hundreds of motorists in mountain passes and knocked out power and telephone service across the region, according to local news reports.
The above MODIS image has a resolution of 250 meters per pixel. It is available in additional resolutions from the MODIS Rapid Response Team.
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NASA image courtesy Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC
