First color image from Mars rover

A surprise dusting of snow had South Africans celebrating.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) JOHANNESBURG RESIDENT, NOKWAZI SKHAKHANE, SAYING:

" It's something that is very exciting for us."

It's snowed here ten times over the past hundred years. Many wanted to mark the occassion.

SOUNDBITE) (English) JOHANNESBURG RESIDENT, ADALBERTO PATRICIO, SAYING

I saw everybody stopping their cars and so I am like let me stop as well and experience the snow."

Extreme weather was the theme of the day --- in the Philippines, heavy trains triggered a landslide.

It's rare enough enough i Johannesburg that drivers pulled over to

I was coming by I saw everybody stopping their cars and so I am like let me stop as well and experience the snow," said Johannesburg resident Adalberto Patricio.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) JOHANNESBURG RESIDENT, ADALBERTO PATRICIO, SAYING

I saw everybody stopping their cars and so I am like let me stop as well and experience the snow."

Rare icy weather chills South Africa as snow covers most of Johannesburg.

RESENDING TO INCLUDE SCRIPT AND SHOTLIST

SHOWS:

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (AUGUST 07, 2012) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

1. WIDE OF JOHANNESBURG COVERED IN SNOW

2. SNOW FALLING IN SANDTON

3. CLOSE UP OF NELSON MANDELA SQUARE

4. EXTERIOR NELSON MANDELA SQUARE SHOPPING MALL

5. TRAFFIC SCENE WITH SNOW FALLING

6. STREET SIGN ON THE GROUND COVERED IN SNOW

7. PEOPLE PLAYING IN SNOW

8. CLOSE UP OF A MAN ON THE SNOW

9. PEOPLE TAKING PICTURES OF SNOW

10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) JOHANNESBURG RESIDENT, ADALBERTO PATRICIO, SAYING

"When I first saw the flakes I was at home, I couldn't believe it because it hardly happens but before I heard everybody on Facebook speaking about it but now that I came, when I was coming by I saw everybody stopping their cars and so I am like let me stop as well and experience the snow."

11. MORE OF PEOPLE PLAYING WITH SNOW

12. (SOUNDBITE) (Sepedi) JOHANNESBURG RESIDENT, SAMUEL MATHETSA, , SAYING:

"I am seeing my snow for the first time in my entire life and I am excited, I never thought I would ever see something like this."

13. MORE OF PEOPLE ON THE SNOW

14. (SOUNDBITE) (English) JOHANNESBURG RESIDENT, NOKWAZI SKHAKHANE, SAYING:

"We are not used to such things it's something that is very exciting for us, we are not used to so much snow. It's just a little bit but we are not used to it. It is exciting."

15. VARIOUS OF SNOW FALLING ON SANDTON STREETS

16. SNOW FALLING ON PARKED CARS

17. ROAD COVERED WITH SNOW

STORY: An unusual snowfall blanketed most parts of South Africa's commercial city of Johannesburg on Tuesday (August 7).

The last time snow made an appearance in the city was back in 2007, bringing it to a total of 12 times in the last 103 years according to the South African Weather Services.

Excited South Africans who are used to sunny weather stopped their cars along the road to catch a glimpse of the rare snow fall.

"When I first saw the flakes I was at home, I couldn't believe it because it hardly happens but before I heard everybody on Facebook speaking about it but now that I came, when I was coming by I saw everybody stopping their cars and so I am like let me stop as well and experience the snow," said Johannesburg resident Adalberto Patricio.

For many, they were seeing snow for the very first time.

"I am seeing my snow for the first time in my entire life and I am excited, I never thought I would ever see something like this," said Samule Mathetsa.

Though the snow is nothing compared to what European countries experience, it is more than most South Africans will ever get to see.

"We are not used to such things it's something that is very exciting for us, we are not used to so much snow. It's just a little bit but we are not used to it. It is exciting." said Nokwazi Skhakhane.

Snow is expected to fall in many parts of the country until Wednesday.