Residents in the Western Cape, Northern Cape, and North West are being warned of severe weather this weekend, following alerts from the South African Weather Service (SAWS). A Level 4 warning was issued for severe thunderstorms in the Northern Cape and western parts of the North West, leading to flooding of roads, settlements, and low-lying areas. A Level 3 warning was issued for disruptive rain, leading to flooding of roads, low-lying bridges, and formal/informal settlements in the Overberg, Southern Cape Winelands, and coastal areas of the Garden Route in the Western Cape on Saturday and Sunday.
Theewaterskloof Municipality warned residents and visitors about widespread showers and thunderstorms, causing significant rainfall with heavy downpours within a short space of time from Saturday until Sunday. Disruptions to essential services, property damage, infrastructure damage, and loss of livelihood and livestock are expected. Mudslides and rockfalls may occur, especially along slopes and mountainous areas. The national government urged residents to take precautions and follow instructions from their respective disaster management centres.
The SAWS said widespread showers and thundershowers could be expected over the western parts of the Free State. The eastern half of the Eastern Cape can expect cloudy and cool to warm conditions, with scattered showers and thundershowers but isolated along the coast and adjacent interior. Isolated afternoon showers and thundershowers can be expected in KwaZulu-Natal.
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) appealed to bathers, boaters, paddlers, sailors, anglers, and coastal hikers to be cautious around the coastline, as the spring tide phase may contribute to stronger than normal rip currents.
