Update 19 September:
As the cold front makes its way through the country, the South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a Yellow level 2 weather warning for parts of the Western Cape and Namaqua, reports Cape {town} Etc.
‘A ridging high-pressure system is expected to bring scattered to widespread showers and thundershowers to the south coast and adjacent of the interior of the Western Cape province,’ warns SAWS.
’24-hour rainfall accumulation in the Garden Route is expected to be between 10 to 20mm, increasing to 30 to 50mm in the afternoon. There is also a possibility of small hail and lightning in these regions.’
The weather warning for disruptive rain takes effect from 12pm on Thursday, 19 September, and remains valid until 11pm.
In a statement released yesterday, the weather service advised that the cold front and cut-off low-pressure system are expected to re-introduce wintery conditions to parts of the Cape from Thursday. SAWS added that light snowfalls are likely to occur over the eastern mountains of the Western Cape, mainly from this afternoon into the evening.
‘The cut-off low is expected to weaken and exit the country from Saturday afternoon,’ the weather service concluded, while AccuWeather forecasts indicate that the Mother City will begin warming up sooner.
According to the warning, residents and travellers in the affected regions are advised of the following possible weather-related impacts:
- Localised flooding of susceptible formal/informal settlements
- Minor motor vehicle accidents due to slippery roads and reduced visibility
- Localised disruptions of essential services is possible
- Localised mudslides and rockfalls.
Update 18 September:
The 18th of September marks the second supermoon of the year, and full moons come equipped with tides which are higher than normal, stronger rip currents and rampant coastal waves.
Weather centre SA has reminded locals are reminded to be cautious when visiting the ocean for the next few days.
Furthermore, weather maps have indicated that the cold front, which is approaching the Western Cape from the west, has already caused pre-frontal drizzle along with light rainfall in the south-western parts of the province.
The cold front is expected to bring scattered rainfall, gusty wind and hazardous sea conditions to the south-western and southern parts of the province. These weather conditions will slowly move to the eastern parts of the country on Thursday, following which, thunderstorms are likely to occur.
Temperatures in the Western Cape will face decline as of Thursday, 19 September.
Just when we thought we’d seen the last of the stormy winter weather, forecasts anticipate a cold front, which will bring heavy rainfall, gusty winds and hazardous sea conditions in the coming days, Cape {town} Etc reports.
Also read: Cape Town volunteers log 18 000+ hours amid severe weather
Satellite images have indicated that heavy rainfall along with thunderstorms are expected in central and eastern South Africa, which will begin this afternoon and continue into the early hours of the morning.
These images also reveal a low-pressure cold front approaching the Western Cape from the west.
The cold front will be accompanied by rain, strong winds and rough sea conditions in the south-western parts of the country as of Wednesday, 18 September.
The cold front will spread to southern and eastern parts of South Africa on Thursday, with a high chance of thunderstorms occurring.
In addition, western, central, southern and eastern South Africa can expect a temperature drop on Saturday as a result of the ongoing weather conditions.
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Picture: Ashley Vlotman / Gallo Images