Freezing conditions are expected on
Friday morning, with predictions of -3°C up to 5 000 feet and possible snowfalls
on Table Mountain. Read more below:
The South African Weather Service
has upgraded its previous weather watches to warnings of heavy rainfall and
disruptive snowfalls as indicated below:
· Heavy rainfall is
likely over the Cape Metro, Overberg, southern parts of the Cape Winelands, and
the West Coast Districts on Thursday evening and Friday.
· Localised flooding
is possible in areas in the Cape Metro, Overberg, southern parts of the Cape
Winelands, and the West Coast Districts on Thursday evening and
Friday.
· Snowfalls are
expected on the western highground of the Western Cape and the south-western
highground of the Northern Cape on Thursday spreading to the south-eastern parts
of the Western Cape on Friday.
· High fire danger is
expected for the Central Karoo and Little Karoo tomorrow (Thursday).
The City has
accordingly upgraded the preparedness level of its Disaster Response teams in
advance of the heavy rainfall predicted and the likelihood of localised urban
flooding in Cape Town, effective today.
The intense cold
front is expected to affect the Western Cape and the Northern Cape provinces
from today until Saturday. Members of the
public and small stock farmers are advised that very cold conditions, snowfalls
on the highground, strong interior winds, rough seas and heavy rainfall in
places could lead to localised flooding.
Heavy rainfalls are
anticipated to start from 02:00 on Thursday until 02:00 on Friday in the Cape
Peninsula, according to the latest forecast provided by the South African
Weather Service.
The South African
Weather Services indicated freezing levels for Friday morning at -3°C from 3 000
until 5 000 feet which will occur on Table Mountain and spreading to the other
parts of the Western Cape.
The City appeals to
residents to exercise caution during this period – especially on roadways.
Motorists should maintain a safe following distance, reduce speed and ensure
that motor vehicles are roadworthy as roads may be flooded.
Those travelling in
mountainous areas across the Western Cape are advised to expect delays and
possible deviations as mountain passes may be closed to traffic. There is
also an increased risk of potential landslides, mudslides and rockfalls in
mountainous areas as a result of the forecasted intense rainfall. Residents residing in these areas are requested
to ensure that they have adequate insurance cover to ensure that emergency
repairs can be undertaken.
Members of the public should not
hike along the mountainous areas as they may find themselves in
distress.
The disaster response teams and
engineering crews are currently inspecting various low-lying and floodplain
areas to ensure that, where possible, preventative work is undertaken to
mitigate against flood and storm damage due to the already saturated ground
surface and above normal river levels in vulnerable areas.
Useful contact
numbers:
· Flooding, blocked
drains and service disruptions: Call 0860 103 089 or SMS to 31373.
· Electricity
outages/disruptions: Call 0860 103 089 or SMS to 31220.
· Road Closures: Call
the City’s Transport Information Centre on 0800 65 64 63 regarding delays on
roadways and deviations.
· Weather Reports:
listen to alerts on
the radio and television; visit www.weathersa.co.za ; or call the Cape Town Weather Office on Tel:
021 934 0749/0831 or the weatherline on
083 123 0500.
· Emergencies:
Call 107 from a landline or 021 480 7700 from a
cellphone. The sooner you phone, the sooner help will arrive.
The
City’s disaster response teams are in close contact with the South African
Weather Service in order to keep a watchful eye on the inclement weather
conditions.
For further
information regarding storms, gale-force winds, snowfall, landslides, mudslides
and rockfalls as well as precautionary measures to prevent damage, please visit
the Disaster Risk Management Centre’s website: www.capetown.gov.za/disaster
End
Issued by:
Integrated Strategic Communication and Branding Department, City of Cape
Town
