Cape Town: The South African Weather Service (SAWS) issued a severe weather warning for the Western Cape on Saturday, July 13, 2024. In the warning issued they clearly advised people to prepare themselves to face more disruptive rainfall and snow.
According to SAWS forecaster – Lehlohonolo Thobela, an orange level-6 warning has been issued for disruptive rainfall which is expected to cause road flooding over the next few days in parts of Western Cape province consisting of Witzenberg, Drakenstein and Stellenbosch municipalities.
Thobela also told that a second yellow level-4 warning has been issued for the City of Cape Town regarding disruptive rain, which could cause flooding, as well as the municipalities of Swartland, Bergrivier, Cederberg, Drakenstein, and Stellenbosch.
He also mentioned that there is a yellow level-2 warning, which indicated that it is very likely to happen but will have a minor impact. Damaging winds are expected to make the navigation at sea, much more difficult than ususal.
However, the disruptive snow is expected over the high-lying areas of the Western Cape and the southern part of the Northern Cape on Saturday night, with Sutherland and parts of the northern Western Cape being covered overnight.
Thobela stated that there will be three weather warnings, that will be received on Sunday. One of them forecast calls for disruptive rain over the Western Cape, particularly in the western and central parts, as well as damaging winds and waves between Tables Bay and Captain’s Berg Bay.
He said that there is a 30% chance that there will be showers and light rain on Sunday, as expected along the southwest coast of the Eastern Cape Province, just between Captain’s Berg Bay and Port Alfred, and a 30 to 60% chance of showers and rain, particularly over the central and western parts of the Western Cape province, but scattered along the Western Cape’s west coast.
Meanwhile, Colin Deiner – Chief director for disaster management of the Western Cape, warned the public that the following roads remain inaccessible:
- The MR310 that links Citrusdal to the N7 is closed until further notice.
- Citrusdal-N7 via MR539 – This route’s low-water bridge is underwater and closed until further notice.
- Citrusdal-N7 via Clanwilliam (MR539 to DR2183 and to the N7 via Clanwilliam – the road is now open only for 4×4 vehicles; use with caution may close again shortly. Water levels have risen.
- Citrusdal-Ceres via MR310 – this road is closed at Elandskloof, until further notice is received.