Cape battens down the hatches
2009-05-14 22:40
Marlene Neethling and Marelize Barnard
Cape Town - With predictions and serious warnings about heavy rain, gale-force winds and dangerous conditions at sea over the coming weekend, emergency services are geared up and prepared for the worst.
The most serious cold front of the year thus far is approaching the Western Cape - a clear sign that winter has finally arrived. Those who will be braving the ocean have been warned of dangerous conditions, with 5m to 7m swells expected at the coast, and 9m swells further into open water.
Rain has been predicted for the entire province, as far north as Springbok, but mostly concentrated in the southwestern parts of the Western Cape.
Furthermore, the South African Weather Service has released a warning that the devastating fires which raged in the mountainous parts of the Western Cape recently could now lead to landslides in these areas.
First intensive cold front
Candice McKechnie, a climatologist, has said that one of the first intensive cold fronts of the season can be expected to hit by Saturday.
"We can now expect one or two cold fronts per week from the start of the winter season."
McKechnie said winds in the southwestern part of the province could reach an average of 50km/h on Saturday. The gale-force wind will hit the southern coast on Sunday as the cold front moves towards George.
Francois Geffroy, a weather forecaster at the SA Weather Service, has also warned of heavy rains over the southwestern part of the province. Up to 50mm of rain can be expected by Saturday.
He warned of gale-force winds as far east as Cape Agulhas.
Weather could change suddenly
Craig Lambinon, spokesperson for the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), has also released a warning about the dangerous conditions at sea this weekend.
Lambinon warned those going out in boats that the weather could change very suddenly and drastically. One might leave shore in sunny weather, but could be caught up in a serious storm mere hours later.
"Conditions at sea are highly unpredictable at this time of year. It is very important that anyone who wants to go out on a boat has the number of their nearest NSRI station at hand to enable a speedy rescue."
Lambinon said all the necessary safety precautions must be taken, and people should be prepared for the worst if the weather were to change suddenly.
Charlotte Powell, spokesperson for the city council's disaster management department, said that that city has made efforts to prepare for heavy rain this winter.
"As part of our strategy, we have cleaned the storm drains in the roads... and prepared for possible floods near the mountains," she said.
"A disaster management team, consisting of specialists and engineers, is ready to act should anything happen. There are also emergency shelters available."