Western Cape under Level 8 warning for heavy rain, flooding and severe weather through Tuesday.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane/ Independent Media
Residents of the Western Cape are being urged to prepare for severe weather on Monday, with authorities warning of heavy downpours and potential flooding in the Cape Town area.
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a Level 8 warning for disruptive rainfall over the city, as well as the mountainous regions of Drakenstein, Stellenbosch, Breede Valley, Witzenberg, and the western parts of Theewaterskloof.
These conditions are expected to persist until at least Tuesday, SAWS warned, with heavy rain potentially leading to flooding of roads, bridges, as well as formal and informal settlements. It said mudslides and fast-flowing rivers could also pose a danger to life.
The weather service also issued an Orange Level 6 warning for disruptive rainfall and potential flooding over the Overberg and southern West Coast districts of the Western Cape.
Severe rainfall is expected over the Western Cape.
Image: SAWS
Another Level 6 warning for damaging winds and waves has been issued for the coastal stretch between Lambert’s Bay and Cannon Rocks until Tuesday. Authorities have warned of danger to navigation as well as potential damage to coastal infrastructure.
On Sunday evening, Cape Town’s Disaster Risk Management Centre received reports of storm damage across several areas, including roofs blown off in Westridge, Mitchells Plain and Hanover Park, and flooding in parts of Khayelitsha, Hout Bay, Strand and Nyanga hostels.
Multiple roads have been flooded and drains blocked across the metro. City teams have been activated to conduct impact assessments and clear affected areas.
Chapman’s Peak Drive is closed due to adverse weather conditions.
Weather-related electricity outages were reported in various areas, with Energy teams working to restore supply.
An Orange Level 5 warning has been issued for the central parts of the Western Cape as well as northern and central parts of the Eastern Cape, with damaging interior winds posing a risk in these areas. Damage to settlements, power interruptions, and the closure of some routes due to falling trees remain a risk.
A Yellow Level 4 warning for damaging winds and waves has been issued for the coastal stretch between Alexander Bay and Lambert’s Bay, as well as Cannon Rocks to East London. This warning also remains in effect until Tuesday.
Finally, Yellow Level 2 warnings have been issued for various other parts of the country.
To that end, the northern parts of the West Coast, eastern parts of the Cape Winelands and Overberg districts of the Western Cape can expect disruptive rainfall and potential flooding. Localised flooding is also possible between Saldanha Bay and Algoa Bay until Tuesday.
Snowfall is also a possibility over mountainous parts of the north-eastern Eastern Cape, with mountain passes at risk of closure.
Furthermore, motorists in high-sided vehicles travelling along routes in the Western and Eastern Cape, as well as the central and southern parts of the Northern Cape, have been warned of strong winds.
“A series of intense cold fronts are expected; therefore the public (especially the elderly) and small-stock farmers are advised that very cold, wet and windy conditions are expected over the southern parts of the Namakwa District in the Northern Cape and western interior of the Western Cape, as well as the Chris Hani and Joe Gqabi district municipalities of the Eastern Cape until Tuesday,” SAWS said.
“Snowfalls are also expected over the mountains of the Western Cape and southern parts of the Northern Cape, as well as over the high ground of the Eastern Cape.”
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Severe rainfall is expected over the Western Cape.
Image: SAWS