Heavy rainfall, very cold conditions, rough seas, snow, and
strong gale force winds are expected over parts of the Cape provinces this
weekend as a strong cold front makes landfall from July 28, along the west
coast of the country.
According to a report released by the South African Weather
Services, on July 29, a cut-off low rapidly develops over the Western Cape
further exacerbating weather conditions.
“Although the Cape provinces will experience the brunt
of these conditions, the central and eastern parts of the country will also
experience cold to very cold conditions from Saturday evening into
Sunday.”
The statement further said that a strong cold front is
expected to make landfall along the west coast of South Africa and Namibia
during Friday evening, causing scattered to widespread showers and rain along
the coast of the Northern Cape and the western parts of the Western Cape.
Very
rough sea conditions along the coastal areas and windy conditions over the
central and western interior of the country are also anticipated.
On Saturday, a cut-off low (an extension of a deep
low-pressure from the main westerly wave) develops over the Western Cape and is
expected to spread to the south-western parts of the Eastern Cape during
Saturday afternoon.
“Cut-off low pressure systems are well known for
causing flooding, gale force winds and snowfall in winter. Widespread rainfall
can be expected over the western and southern parts of the Northern Cape, most
parts of the Western Cape, and parts of the Eastern Cape on
Saturday.”
“Heavy rainfall leading to flooding is possible over
parts of the Cape Metropole, Cape Winelands, and especially the Overberg and
Garden Route Districts of the Western Cape mainly on Saturday but already over
the Cape Metropole from Friday evening. These conditions are expected to spread
along the south coast of the Eastern Cape on Saturday afternoon.”
The report further stated that very rough seas (associated
with strong winds), with wave heights between 4.0 and 6.0 m can be expected
along the west coast from Friday night, spreading along the south coast of the
Western Cape on Saturday, to the coast of the Eastern Cape on Saturday night
and reaching the KwaZulu-Natal coast on Sunday.
These conditions may cause
disruption to beachfront activities and difficulty in navigation at sea for
small to medium vessels.
High seas with wave heights between 6.0 to 7.0 m can
also be expected along the south coast of the Western Cape from Saturday
afternoon into Sunday, spreading to the Eastern Cape coast on Sunday which can
lead to possible beach erosion and put small to medium vessels at risk of
taking on water or capsizing.
The weather report said snowfall is expected across interior
mountain ranges of the Western Cape, the western and southern high ground of
the Northern Cape and the high ground of the Eastern Cape from Saturday into
Sunday and may extend into the Drakensberg region of KwaZulu-Natal and the
extreme southern parts of the Free State on Sunday.
“Disruptive snowfall can be expected over the interior
high ground of the Western Cape, the northern and central high ground of the
Eastern Cape and the southern high ground of the Northern Cape on Saturday into
Sunday, which may lead to loss of livestock, closure of mountain passes and
result in some communities to be temporarily inaccessible.”
“Very cold conditions with a maximum temperatures
between 5°C and 10°C are expected over the interior of the Cape provinces
from Saturday into Sunday, while cold conditions are expected to spread to the
central and eastern parts of the country mainly on Sunday.”
The report stated that the weather systems are expected to
weaken significantly on Sunday while exiting over the south-eastern parts of
the country, causing weather conditions to improve mainly from Sunday evening
into Monday. However, heavy ocean swell will continue to impact the southern
and south-eastern coastline on Monday due to another cold front slipping along
the southern coastal areas.
The SAWS is closely monitoring this weather system and will
update the public when needed. It is strongly advised that the public regularly
follow weather forecasts on television, radio as well as social media
platforms. Updated information in this regard will regularly be available
at www.weathersa.co.za as
well as via the SA Weather Service Twitter account @SAWeatherServic.
