The South African Weather Service has issued multiple severe weather warnings for the Western Cape, highlighting the risk of disruptive rainfall, flooding, damaging winds, and snowfall. The most serious alert is an Orange Level 8 warning for heavy rainfall expected to cause flooding of roads, bridges, and settlements, as well as mudslides and danger to life in areas including Drakenstein, Stellenbosch, Theewaterskloof, Cape Town, Breede Valley, and Witzenberg until Tuesday.
Additional Orange Level 6 warnings have been issued for disruptive rainfall in the southern West Coast and Overberg Districts, and for damaging winds and waves along the coast between Lambert’s Bay and Cannon Rocks. An Orange Level 5 warning for damaging interior winds is also in effect for central Western Cape and parts of the Eastern Cape.
Further Yellow Level warnings include damaging winds and waves along the coast from Alexander Bay to Lambert’s Bay, disruptive rainfall in parts of the West Coast, Cape Winelands, and Overberg, damaging winds across several provinces, and disruptive snowfall in the Northern Cape, Cape Winelands, and northern Eastern Cape. These conditions are expected to persist until early next week.
In response, the Western Cape government has activated disaster readiness measures, placing all disaster management centres on high alert. Authorities are urging residents to monitor official updates, avoid unnecessary travel, exercise caution near rivers and coastal areas, and secure loose objects in preparation for strong winds.
