|
Winds threaten festive cheer
21/11/2007 17:46 - (SA)
Verashni Pillay
Cape Town - The South African Weather Service issued a national warning on Wednesday, as flash flooding was expected in various parts of the country.
The Western Cape's Breede River Valley, Overberg and Eden Districts were likely targets as well as along the south coast of the Eastern Cape and southern KwaZulu-Natal, according to the service.
A weather station in the Western Cape recorded gusts of wind of up to 53km/h. Rough seas, with wave heights exceeding five metres, are expected to persist between Cape Point and Algoa Bay.
SA Weather Service forecaster, Tshepo Ngobeni, said that the bad weather was caused by a "cut-off low", a low pressure system that extends from high levels to the surface.
"It came to the Western Cape area yesterday (Tuesday)," said Ngobeni. "It's a cut-off low associated with a strong south easterly wind.
"Together those two systems are bringing a lot of rain over that area."
The flash flood warning extended into Thursday. The Weather Service warned of wet and windy conditions in the interior of the Western Cape and on the high ground of the Northern Cape.
Lights delayed
Capetalk radio also reported that the City of Cape Town may postpone switching on festive season lights if the weather continued.
Lights were supposed to be switched on in Macassar and Firgrove.
The station reported this may be rescheduled as gale force winds and heavy rains continue into a second day.
According to Ngobeni, the Cape's weather would become moderate over the weekend, with no rains expected on Saturday and a little evening rain on Sunday.
Overberg hit hard
Meanwhile, three families were evacuated and helicopters and emergency workers were placed on standby on Wednesday, amid heavy rains in the Overberg District Municipality in the Western Cape, the area's disaster management head said.
Reinard Geldenhuys said 100 people whose houses had been affected by streams of water had been supplied with blankets, although the houses were not flooded.
Secondary roads in the area were closed and Agri Western Cape had warned farmers to look after their livestock.
He warned that more rain was expected over the next two days.
SABC reported that the heavy rains were also affecting the Heidelberg area of the southern Cape with emergency workers preparing to evacuate people in the Slangriver area.
Several roads had been closed in Heidelberg, after a dam burst its walls, washing away a car.
- News24
|
News
