Severe weather warning for Western Cape

I just received an email from a friend who has a friend (that’s mos how the famous Coloured Connexions work) that works for the SA Weather Bureau and he has shared some inside info with me, so now I’m sharing it with my fellow Capetonians. The email goes as follow…

 

“Dear Capetonians

Trust the email finds you in good health and having had a restful weekend!

I have been tracking the storm systems since last Wednesday and is now in course to hit Western Cape hard, bringing gale force winds reaching storm strength at times, very heavy rainfalls of up to 140mm rain over a four day period and very rough seas with waves in excess of 5 to 7 meters and heavy snowfalls over high lying areas such as in Ceres.

 

There are at least four cold fronts on its way to hit Western Cape this week, bringing very cold and unsettled weather until at least Friday.

 

The first front is due to make landfall later this morning, bringing widespread rains and fresh to strong winds. Expected rainfalls in 24 hrs - between 20 and 30mm and winds averaging about 40km/h from the North-west. Snowfalls are not expected at this stage.

 

The second cold front, the most severe storm front to have hit Western Cape so far this year is due to make landfall tomorrow bringing gale force winds reaching storm strength at times, averaging between 65km/h and 85km/h mainly over the coastal areas, very heavy rainfalls of between 60mm and 100mm in 24 hrs. Rough seas with 7 metre waves are expected to develop during the course of the day, leading to sea foams being sprayed onto the coastal road just as had happened in August last year. Heavy snowfalls are expected from tomorrow night on Western Cape mountains and possibly over high-lying areas such as Ceres.

 

The third "secondary" cold front behind the second front is expected to develop and make landfall sometime on Wednesday, bringing further heavy rainfalls at times of between 30 and 40mm in 24 hours and further snowfalls over the Western Cape mountains as well as high-lying areas. Winds is still expected to bring gale force winds, but at a reduced intensity averaging between 55km/h and 65km/h. Rough seas with 5 to 7 metres wave is expected to continue.

 

The fourth and final cold fronts which is a weak cold front is expected to make landfall on Thursday, maintaining the very cold and rainy weather, rainfalls is not expected to be very heavy, between 5 and 10mm in 24 hours and gale force winds for the past two days will have abated already and switching to south-westerly, averaging around 30 to 40km/h. But snowfalls is expected to continue over Western Cape mountains as well as high-lying areas.

 

By Friday, the cold and rainy weather is expected to clear rapidly, giving way to sunny & slightly warmer weather for this coming weekend.

 

I will be keeping track of the approaching storm system and will inform you accordingly if there are any changes.

 

Have a pleasant day!”

 

There we have it straight from the horse’s mouth. Be warned, this is not a drill, repeat this is not a drill… it’s also not a skinner storie either… So get out the Old Brown Sherry en n’ ander man se vrou and start warming up ekse!

Salute till me next post!