This is what MSBWX expected from these cold fronts:
1. Always the possibility of Severe Weather
2. Moderate to heavy rain
3. Strong to near gale force winds
4. Possible Flooding
5. Cold weather conditions
6. 10% chance of light snowfalls over the high mountains
7. Veldfires
8. Rough Seas (4 - 6m today but increase to >9m along the EC Coast by late tomorrow and Saturday)
9. Possible storm damage
10. Bergwind conditions ahead of the first cold front
Herewith some feedback:
Always the possibility of Severe Weather:
N3 Toll Concession
Moderate to heavy rain :
18 July 2014 - Kirstenbosch 43mm, Paarl 28mm, Molteno Reservoir (CT) 25mm, Bellville 23mm, Franschhoek 23mm, Jonkershoek 23mm, SAAO Observatory 22mm, Cape Town Airport (W/O) 21mm, Tulbagh 20mm, etc. Many other places in the SW-Cape received between 10-20mm. Also of note were Nieuwoudtville (NC) 14mm and Springbok (NC) 13mm. - SAWS
Strong to near gale force winds:
Image: Wind ripping Tautliners apart in Van Reenens - Truck and Cargo
- Gale Force Wind - N3 Toll Concession
@N3Route#VanReenenPass: W Station Alert: Wind gust threshold reached at 141km/h. - Strong Wind - SA Weather Reports @SAWXREP · 12h15 SAST Mossel Bay WX Update: WNW wind gusting at 36 km/h at times. 6/8 Cloud cover. Temp 20 Deg/C Baro: 1006 mb
- 2014 Aerobatic Championships- MSB Airfield WX Update: Wind Speed: 18 - 49 km/h, Wind NNW, Temp 19.8 Deg/C Baro 1005 mb CB Alt 990Ft Hum 86%
Possible Flooding :
Cape Town Flooding - Cape Town FMS
Cold weather conditions:
No reports of very intense cold weather conditions have been received although light snowfalls were reported.
10% chance of light snowfalls over the high mountains:
Snow Report SA
@SnowReportSA
Mossel Bay Weather Observation shared Snow Report SA's status.
17 July - The first report of snow is in from the Matroosberg Private Nature Reserve.
It is snowing down at their reception, but is not building up at ground
level as yet. There is bound to be more further up the mountain!
Veldfires:
- Most fires detected in 24 hours during this event in South Africa : 463
- VWS Wildfires
@vwsfires
·
Sad news as
#BettysBay#wildfire destroys two house overnight (via@news24) http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Fire-destroys-2-houses-in-Bettys-Bay-20140717 …
Betty's Bay Fire - 16 July · 
· Taken at Betty's Bay
On
Wednesday night 12 hours of blazing fire was being spread by gale force
winds. The fire started around 7pm and two houses have been claimed by
the fire. Others have been seriously damaged.
http://whalecoastfm.co.za/
Photos by Melissa Jade Bradley.
http://whalecoastfm.co.za/
Photos by Melissa Jade Bradley.
- Suzanne Elizabeth Wille + Christine Webber - Wildfire destroys 5 houses at Stone's Hill, Grahamstown.
Letaba Fire Protection Accociation - An aerial photo taken by our Spotter Pilot, Siem Venter, of the fire up in Haenertsburg.
Many other reports of fires received. See our Facebook and Twitter Pages.
Rough Seas (4 - 6m today but increase to >9m along the EC Coast by late tomorrow and Saturday):
See video: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=816546501697193
Possible storm damage:
Velf fires destroy grazing and houses
Wind damage trucks on the N3
Bergwind conditions ahead of the first cold front :
The high minimum temperatures that led to some record highs overnight, were a result of warming from a North Westerly flow of warm air from the interior.
These dry Berg winds warm the temperature up at approximately 3 degrees Celsius per 1000ft of descent from the escarpment to the coast. More at Weather Guru: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Weather-Guru/192566374124112
Once again this cold front has shown that we should never underestimate the weather. As I indicated before this event, there is always the possiblity of severe weather occurring during this event.
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.
Johan Terblanche
Founder: MSBWX, SAWXREP, SAWDOS, SAWDIS
Mossel Bay
20 July 2014
