CT power cuts not over yet

2006-07-03 09:31

Michelle O'Connor

Cape Town - Capetonians would once again have to take out their coats, scarves and umbrellas following the mild temperatures and sunshine experienced over the past couple of days.

Widespread rain and cold were expected over the largest part of the Western Cape by Monday night.

According to the website of the South African Weather Service, light rain would start falling over the metropole on Monday morning. This would clear somewhat by Tuesday, yet cold and rainy weather would persist until Saturday over the metropole and the rest of the province.

A cold front and northwesterly wind would push cloudy weather and rain into the whole province by Monday night.

Use electricity sparingly

Pieter Cronjé, a spokesperson for the provincial power monitoring committee, warned residents of the Western Cape to use electricity sparingly in the light of the cold conditions expected this week.

"The committee is satisfied with the way in which Capetonians have been saving electricity so far, but the dangerous time is not over yet. There are at least another 30 days ahead during which controlled power cuts can occur," he said.

Cronjé said cold and rain were responsible for a sharp increase in power demand. "The province just escaped widespread, controlled power cuts during the past weeks."

Minimum en maximum temperatures of between 5°C and 24°C were expected over the province on Monday. The maximum temperature for Beaufort-West would be 23°C, Cape Point 17°C, Cape Town 17°C, Clanwilliam 22°C, George 24°C, Hermanus 19°C, Langebaan 18°C, Malmesbury 18°C, Oudtshoorn 24°C, Paarl 17°C, Riversdale 24°C, Robertson 20°C, Stilbaai 23°C, Strand 18°C, Vredendal 21°C and Worcester 19°C.

- Die Burger