The South African Weather Service (SAWS) put out a pair of weather warnings for the Western Cape on Wednesday, 17 August. The province is expected to feel the effects of the passing cold front until at least Thursday.
WESTERN CAPE RAIN WARNING EXTENDED
The weather service extended the rain warning, which previously expired at midnight on Wednesday until 11:00 on Thursday. In addition, a wind warning will be in place from 22:00 on Wednesday until midnight on Sunday.
The cold front, which made landfall over the Western Cape and Northern Cape on Wednesday is expected to bring rainfall between 15 to 20 millimetres on Wednesday and Thursday.
“Furthermore, 40 to 50 millimetres of rainfall accumulations can be expected over the southwestern parts of the Western Cape on Wednesday afternoon into the evening,” said the weather service.
The potential impacts of the rain are:
- Heavy downpours could result in localised flooding of roads and formal and informal settlements.
- Localised interruption of essential services, such as water and electricity.
- Localised disruption of traffic with an increased likelihood of motor vehicle accidents.
- Localised mudslides and rockfalls are a possibility in susceptible areas.
On Tuesday, the City of Cape Town said its Disaster Risk Management Centre and other external role players are on standby to deal with localised flooding or other weather-related impacts.
50 TO 65KM/H WINDS
The weather service said strong to gale force winds (50 to 65km/h) could be expected between Cape Columbine and Still Bay on Wednesday.
“The wind is expected to turn south to southwesterly on Thursday and strengthen on Friday afternoon (50 to 60km/h) south of Saldanha Bay, moderating from Saturday afternoon.”
The strong winds are expected to bring southerly swells of between 4 and 5 metres to the seas between Cape Columbine and Plettenberg Bay on Thursday as well as Saturday into Sunday.
The potential impacts of the Western Cape wind warning are:
- Difficulty navigating at sea for small vessels and personal watercraft, such as kayaks.
- Small vessels are at risk of taking on water and capsizing.
- Localised disruption of beachfront activities.
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