The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued multiple severe weather warnings for the Western Cape this weekend.
A significant cold front is expected to make its way across the Western, Northern and Eastern Cape between today and Monday. The SAWS cautions the public and small stock farmers on expected intermittent heavy downpours, snowfalls, very cold conditions, strong coastal and interior winds as well as very rough seas.
These are the severe weather warnings:
- An Orange Level 5 Warning for disruptive rain which could lead to flooding of roads and settlements has been issued for the City of Cape Town, Cape Winelands, and Theewaterskloof Municipality today.
- A Yellow Level 4 Warning for disruptive rain, which could lead to the disruption of traffic flow due to flooding of major roads and damage to properties was issued for the West Coast, Langeberg, Overstrand and Cape Agulhas municipalities.
- A Yellow Level 3 Warning for damaging interior winds which could lead to difficult driving conditions, especially over major routes is expected over the City of Cape Town, Cape Winelands, Overberg, Garden Route and Central Karoo, as well as over the southern high ground of Namakwa in the Northern Cape.
- An Orange Level 6 Warning for damaging wind and waves which could hamper navigation at sea is expected between Cape Columbine and Cape Agulhas on Saturday morning. This is expected to spread to Alexander Bay and Plettenberg Bay by this evening.
- A Yellow Level 2 Warning for damaging winds and waves leading to difficulty in navigation at sea is expected between Plettenberg Bay and Port Alfred from this afternoon.
In general, the SAWS forecasts windy and partly cloudy but cold to cool weather in the southeastern parts of the Western Cape. It will be cloudy over the southwestern parts from the afternoon, with isolated to scattered showers and rain but widespread showers and rain over the extreme southwestern parts.
Snowfall is expected over the high-lying areas from this evening.
