Images: Eumetsat + Aqua Modis - NASA (Click on images for larger view.)
This event is now something of the past. (hopefully) However it left a trail of destruction in it's wake that will run into millions if not billions of rand of damage. I will summarize a few "destructive events" that were caused by this Cold Front/Cut-Off Low. I will not go into detail as this blog contains most if not all of the information.
1. Several yachts participating in the Cape Town to Rio Yacht Race had to be rescued after they ran into this severe weather system. One person dead and several others injured.
2. 2 people killed after being washed away by floodwater in the Robertson area.
3. Officials are searching for the body of a mentally handicapped man swept away by flood water in the Langeberg district.
4. N1 closed to traffic at Laingsburg due to flooding of the access bridge into the town. Floriskraal dam near Laingsburg 176% full. People evacuated that lives near the dam wall as precautionary measure.
5. People were caught in rushing rivers, streams overflowed and roads were blocked off by scattered debris as parts of the Western Cape were inundated with up to 110mm of torrential rainfall.
6. Several people were successfully rescued from flood water by Western Cape Emergency Medical- and other services.
7. Residents of the Buffelsjagsrivier informal settlement and the Bontebok National Park in Swellendam were evacuated on Monday evening as a precautionary measure.
8. Several national and secondary roads flooded and closed to traffic.
9. Localized flooding of houses, roads and sewerage systems - several Western Cape towns.
10. Reports of intense unusual thunderstorms in parts of the Western-, Southern Cape and Karoo.
11. 20 people trapped in Meiringspoort between Oudshoorn and Beaufort West. Rescuers also trapped and had to be rescued by helicopter. Cars and Trucks also trapped.
12. Cold front and cut-off low turns into a powerful extra-tropical or mid-latitude cyclone.
13. Family rescued near Willowmore after their car was washed of the road by floodwater.
14. Rivers came down in flood while several large dams were overflowing. People were warned of further flooding as a result.
15. A "Tornado" (Funnel Cloud)was observed by members of the public near Calitzdorp on the 9 January 2014.
16. Telephone, cellphone and internet connections in Laingsburg were intermittent as a result of the weather.
17. The SANDF and HAMNET were on standby to assist in the event that matters took a turn for the worst.
18. Several people were cut-off from the outside world.
There might even be more incidents but to date this is all that I have on record for the Karoo, Western- and Southern Cape. Now if this is not severe weather then I do not know what will be classified as severe weather. Looking at the events it is clear that this weather system was underestimated by many. No early warnings or press releases. It is clear that Weather and Flood Warnings came far to late (just my opinion). The above should be enough food for thought to hopefully prepare for future severe weather events. Long before this event started I was of the opinion that the Western Cape could experience unseasonal and severe weather. I do not use sophisticated weather equipment but readily available prediction charts from the US to get heads-up "warnings" of any severe weather events. Surely if I could see that this was going to be a severe weather and unseasonal event so could the powers to be.
This event illustrated just how unpredictable cut-off low systems are and how destructive they can be.
Early warnings and press releases are crucial and once the "alarm" has been raised, we need to be prepared and ready for any eventuality.
Finally: I would like to thank all the members of public, private sector, radio amateurs, the media and real time observers who send photos, information and reports about this event. With the information received we kept the public informed. I am overwhelmed by the response.
Once again thank you for the support and service. I am looking forward to your continued support. With your help we can render a free service to the public and hopefully contribute to save and better the lives of those in need.
MSBWX would hereby like to express it's condolences and sympathy to all those families and friends who lost loved one's as a result of the severe weather this past few days.
Johan Terblanche
Founder: MSBWX, SAWDOS, SAWDIS
Mossel Bay
10 January 2014
