The city also warned that severe weather could cause damage to power infrastructure and power outages.
(Photo courtesy of Gallo Images/Die Burger/Jaco Marais)
- Severe weather is expected in parts of the country.
- Cape Town city authorities are on alert for weather-related incidents.
- The city said strong winds and heavy rain could impact power infrastructure.
The City of Cape Town has announced that authorities are on high alert following weather warnings for cold, strong winds and rain.
This follows an advisory from the South African Weather Service regarding severe weather conditions over the next few days.
The SA Weather Service (SAWS) has warned that an intense low-pressure system, known as a cut-off cyclone, is expected to bring widespread showers and thunderstorms to many parts of the country this weekend and early next week.
Cut-off cyclones are large-scale weather systems that are notorious for causing widespread flooding, as evidenced by events such as the 2022 KwaZulu-Natal floods and the 1981 Laingsburg floods. Depending on the season in which it occurs, it can bring damaging winds, severe thunderstorms, and even snow.
This severe weather is likely to affect parts of the Western Cape throughout the weekend.
Read | Saturday's weather: Low temperatures, heavy rain, strong winds and possible flooding
Disaster Risk Management Center (DRMC) spokeswoman Charlotte Powell said the system would bring dark south-easterly winds with the potential for heavy rain, damaging surf and very cold, wet conditions. He said windy conditions could occur.
“DRMC has alerted all relevant city services to be on standby in case weather-related impacts are likely to occur,” she said.
The city also warned that severe weather could cause damage to power infrastructure and power outages.
Beverley van Reenen, Member of Energy at Meiko, said: “While we hope that the expected severe weather is not severe and does not significantly impact electricity services, it is anticipated that damage to electricity infrastructure will occur during periods of severe weather. “There is an increased risk. Damage to infrastructure is common.” Repairs will take longer. ”
In the event of heavy rain or strong winds, it could also affect the time it takes to deal with a power outage, as teams can only work on electrical work once weather conditions improve and it is safe to do so, he said. added.
“Therefore, severe weather may increase the volume of service requests and result in longer service outages,” she added.
SAWS has issued a Yellow Level 1 warning for winds and waves that will make navigation difficult for the sea between Saldanha Bay and Cape Agulhas from Friday to Saturday.
It also warned that heavy rain, flooding and cold waves could occur in parts of the Western Cape, southern Namaqua River in the Northern Cape, and northern Eastern Cape.