Beware 'black southeaster'
2006-07-11 23:10
Eduan Maggo
Cape Town - Cold, wet and windy weather ... that's what is in store for the Western Cape during the next few days.
The weather office on Tuesday warned of a "black southeaster" bringing heavy rain and gale force winds.
Provincial manager of the South African Weather Service, Johan Stander, said: "This phenomenon is a combination of weather systems.
"Cold, moist air from the south and warm moist air from the north are undercutting each other, which can lead to good rain in places."
The Cape Peninsula can expect heavy rain on Wednesday evening and Thursday.
The Cape Metropole, Boland, Rûens, Overberg, the Garden Route and the Little Karoo can expect more than 50mm within 24 hours.
The weather service says rough seas can be expected in the next few days, with swells of more than five metres.
There will be strong to gale force south-easterly to easterly winds along the coast between Cape Point and Plettenberg Bay.
Stander says as the system moves east, it will lead to storms and thunderstorms along the south coast and the Little Karoo.
The black southeaster should affect mostly the areas east of Sir Lowry's Pass.
The rain is expected to clear by Sunday.
- Die Burger