Author: Marlene Nqumse

The Cape Town Weather Office has issued the following severe weather alert.  WARNING: damaging winds over the interior of the Garden Route District Municipality for later today.

HAZARD: Damaging winds
ALERT LEVEL: Warning
VALID FROM (SAST): 07/08/19 – 10h00
VALID TO (SAST): 07/08/19 – 20h00

WARNING:  A strong W/NW’ly gale force wind (70-80km/h) is expected between Cape Point and Cape Agulhas this afternoon (Wednesday), subsiding by evening.

ADVISORY: Strong north-westerly to westerly winds (50-60km/h) are expected over the Breede River Valley, Central Karoo, and the interior regions of the Garden Route District of the Western Cape today (Wednesday).

Description: Strong damaging winds
Strong damaging winds often occur along coastal regions, but also often occur during thunderstorm activity. These winds are sudden and can cause much damage.

Precautions:  Strong damaging winds
Stay indoors where possible away from the windows that open towards the severe winds. Be aware of the following: – sudden cross winds if traveling especially between buildings, fallen trees or power lines and flying debris.
Small boats must stay away from the open sea and seek the shelter of a harbour, river estuary or protected bay.
Parked aircraft should be pointed into the direction of the wind and secured. Listen to the radio or TV for warnings and obey the instructions from disaster management officers.

Description: Dangerous veld/bush fire conditions

Whenever there are prolonged periods of little and no rain coupled with warm dry winds, veldt or bush fires can easily be sparked and will spread rapidly in strong winds.

Don’t make fires in the open and/or leave fires unattended. Don’t throw cigarette butts out of cars or in the open veldt. Don’t throw bottles in the veldt as they can magnify the sun’s rays and start fires. Prepare and maintain fire breaks in controlled manner. In the case of a large fire report it immediately and move away from the area to let the professionals deal with it. Never throw water onto a fire started by an electrical fault or fires started by oil or paraffin lamps. In this case sand or a blanket should be used to smother the fire. Listen to the radio or TV for warnings and obey the instructions from disaster management officers.

Report any related incidents to the Garden Route DM Disaster Management Centre at Tel: 044-805 5071.

The Cape Town Weather Office has issued the following severe weather alert:

HAZARD: Veld Fire Conditions
ALERT LEVEL: Warning
VALID FROM (SAST): 07/08/19 – 10h00
VALID TO (SAST): 07/08/19 – 20h00

Expected over Central and Karoo and Hessequa municipality of the Garden Route District tomorrow (Wednesday).

Description: Strong damaging winds
Strong damaging winds often occur along coastal regions, but also often occur during thunderstorm activity. These winds are sudden and can cause much damage.

Precautions:  Strong damaging winds
Stay indoors where possible away from the windows that open towards the severe winds. Be aware of the following: – sudden cross winds if traveling especially between buildings, fallen trees or power lines and flying debris.

Small boats must stay away from the open sea and seek the shelter of a harbour, river estuary or protected bay.
Parked aircraft should be pointed into the direction of the wind and secured.  Listen to the radio or TV for warnings and obey the instructions from disaster management officers.

Description: Dangerous veld/bush fire conditions

Whenever there are prolonged periods of little and no rain coupled with warm dry winds, veldt or bush fires can easily be sparked and will spread rapidly in strong winds.

Precautions: Dangerous veld/bush fire conditions

Don’t make fires in the open and/or leave fires unattended. Don’t throw cigarette butts out of cars or in the open veldt. Don’t throw bottles in the veldt as they can magnify the sun’s rays and start fires. Prepare and maintain fire breaks in controlled manner. In the case of a large fire report it immediately and move away from the area to let the professionals deal with it. Never throw water onto a fire started by an electrical fault or fires started by oil or paraffin lamps. In this case sand or a blanket should be used to smother the fire. Listen to the radio or TV for warnings and obey the instructions from disaster management officers.

The Cape Town Weather Office has issued the following warnings:

Issued: 28/07/2019 @ 12:44

WARNING #1

ALERT LEVEL:  Level 4 Yellow Warning for wind

Valid from: (SAST) 30/07/2019 – 20:00

Valid to: (SAST) 30/07/2019 – 00:00

Affected DM / LM / Metro / area

City of Cape Town, Drakenstein (LM), Stellenbosch (LM), Breede Valley (LM), Langeberg
(LM),Laingsburg (LM), Beaufort West (LM), Theewaterskloof (LM), Overstrand (LM),
Swellendam (LM), Cape Agulhas (LM) and Hessequa (LM).

DESCRIPTION:  There is a Low likelihood of Significant impacts to occur over
over the Cape Metropole, Cape Winelands, Overberg and Central Karoo from Monday
afternoon from early Tuesday morning through to the evening due to WIND.

A cold front affecting the Western Cape will result in strong to gale force and
gusty north-westerly winds over the interior of the Western Cape throughout
Tuesday. Wind speeds are expected to reach 60-70km/h with gusts up
to 80-90km/h. These north-westerly winds will act as a crosswind to the N1, N2
and N7 highways and associated major railways. Winds moderate by Tuesday
night.

Strong to Gale force and gusty crosswinds along the N1, N2 and N7 highways
may result in these major routes as well as corresponding rail transport being
affected. Dangerous driving conditions may lead to road accidents along this
route. High-sided vehicles are at risk of being toppled by intense wind gusts
along the route.These strong winds along with dry and warm conditions may
cause run-away veldfires over the Central Karoo and Eden District on Monday.
Damage to formal and informal settlements and possible visibility reduction due
to dust storms.

WARNING #2

Alert level: Level 4 Yellow Warning for Wind  (Coast)

Valid from: (SAST) 29/07/2019 – 20:00

Valid to: (SAST) 30/07/2019 – 17:00

Affected coastal area (up to 15nm)

Coastal areas between Cape Agulhas and Plettenberg Bay.

DESCRIPTION:  There is a Low likelihood of Significant impacts to occur
along the coast between Cape Agulhas and Plettenberg Bay due to WIND.

A cold front is expected to move over the south-western parts of the Western
Cape Monday night through Tuesday, with the potential to cause gale force
north-westerly winds (35-40kt) Monday night between Cape Columbine and
Capre Agulhas spreading to the offshore areas of the south coast (Plettenberg
Bay) during Tuesday afternoon while turning westerly.

Weather conditions will cause difficulty in navigation out at seas due to strong
winds, small vessels may be at risk of taking on water and capsizing. Some
disruption to operations for small harbours and ports are possible.

WARNING #4

Alert level:  Level 2 Yellow Warning for Waves

Valid from: (SAST) 30/07/2019 – 00:00

Valid to: (SAST) 31/07/2019 – 08:00

Affected coastal area (up to 15nm)

Coastal areas between Lamberts Bay and Plettenberg Bay.

DESCRIPTION:  There is a High likelihood of Minor impacts to occur
along the Western Cape west and south-west coast early on Tuesday morning,
spreading to Plettenberg Bay during the afternoon due to high WAVES.

Intense cold front passing over the Cape late Monday night and through to
Tuesday, generating high wave conditions along the west and south-west coast
early Tuesday morning. Waves heights of 6-7m are expected with a westerly
component.  These waves will spread along the south coast during the afternoon however
remaining further off-shore. Swell direction swings to south-westerly late
Tuesday.

Difficulty in navigation along the entire coastline is likely and may lead to small
vessels taking on water and/or capsizing. This will be enhanced with the strong
winds that are also expected. Localised damage to infrastructure iis possible
and mainly for the west and south-west coast. Localised disruption to
beachfront activities are also likely.