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Cape of (summer) storms
22/11/2007 00:59 - (SA)
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| An unlucky pedestrian in Cape Town who forgot her umbrella at home grabbed a plastic bag, but that didn't help much. (Damien Schumann, Die Burger) |
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Arnold Ras, Die Burger
Cape Town - Disaster management on Wednesday gave emergency services and municipalities early warning that heavy rain might cause severe disruptions.
It followed a warning by the South African Weather Service that more heavy rainfalls were expected over the Overberg, and western parts of the Eden District and Mossel Bay.
The heavy rains could bring flash floods in places.
There was widespread flooding in the Overberg and parts of the Southern Cape on Wednesday, while the Cape Pensinsula was continuously battered by heavy downpours and strong south easterly winds.
Jan Gerber reports that in the Caledon area a cloudburst over the Overberg flooded many houses and made a large number of roads and low-water bridges impassable.
After the skies had opened 50 shacks in the Zwelihle area of Hermanus and at least five houses in Kuil Street, Caledon were submerged. 150mm fell in 24 hours Overstrand Municipality said in the 24 hours up to 08:00 on Wednesday morning, 150mm rain had been measured at Kleinmond, 110mm at Voëlklip and 92mm at the Hermanus municipal office.
Sonika Johnston reports that in the Southern Cape at least one family near Heidelberg quickly had to evacuate their house after it had been subjected to a deluge. The house was partially destroyed.
Fifteen other houses were flooded after a downpour of 90mm over about 12 hours came down on the town.
The very cold, wet and windy conditions are expected to continue over the interior of the Western Cape, and the western high lying areas of the Northern Cape. That also applies to the five-metre swells off Cape Point and Algoa Bay. Enough resources on stand-by
Johan Minnie, spokesperson for Cape Town Disaster Management, said the reason for the early warning was to allow the city's various departments to ensure that they had enough resources on stand-by.
"There haven't been any serious incidents in Cape Town
yet (by late Wednesday). Apart from the rain we have the wind gusting strongly, but at least it's not yet gale force."
Pedestrians grabbed onto anything fixed to help brave the south-easter on Wednesday afternoon.
Keith Moir, weather forecaster, said in a statement that a cut-off low pressure system moving in slowly over the western parts of the Western Cape on Thursday and Friday was causing concern.
The system would weaken by Saturday, when it was expected to be over the central interior. Flash floods
He said flash floods were possible where water from the mountain catchments of the Langeberg, Outeniqua and the Swartberg fed into the rivers.
"Although the rain will continue on Friday, its intensity will diminish."
Moir said the heavy rains could cause problems on the roads.
Searl Johannes, spokesperson for Cape Town Traffic Department said since the rain had started falling, at least eleven traffic accidents had been reported.
"Motorists should drive more slowly, observe a bigger following distance and keep their lights on. They must also be more observant," he added. Roads flooded, rockfalls A provincial traffic spokesperson told Die Burger at 18:00 on Wednesday that roads in the Hermanus area had been flooded, and there had been rockfalls at Rooi Els.
No rain was forecast for Cape Town, Paarl, Clanwilliam or Langebaan on Saturday and Sunday.
But it would be a while before residents saw the sun again at George, Riversdal, Hermanus, the Breë River valley, Worcester or Oudtshoorn.
There was a 60% chance of rain in these areas on Saturday.
On Sunday, it will start to dry up in most of the province.
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