[imagesource: Esa Alexander / Sunday Times]

This weekend will be one for the books.

By that I mean, those residing in parts of the Western Cape should probably remain indoors reading books over the weekend or run the risk of being blown away by strong, gale-force winds.

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) sent out a yellow severe weather warning for parts of the Western Cape.

The bad weather is expected to start on Thursday, November 25 and last until Saturday, November 27.

Big portions of the Garden Route have already been badly affected by flooding and intense winds since last Sunday.

News24 has reported that authorities all over these areas and surrounds are on high alert, waiting for “more adverse weather conditions”, which are “expected to wreak havoc in the area”:

“An intense weather system will result in strong to gale force south-east to easterly winds (60 to 70km/h gusting 80 to 100km/h) between Saldana Bay and Plettenberg Bay from Thursday afternoon until Saturday,” the SAWS said in a statement.

“Over the interior, strong to gale force north-easterly winds will affect the eastern Namakwa District in the Northern Cape and Western Cape, spreading to the Garden Route by Friday,” it added.

Yellow level 4 warning: Wind: Western Cape 25 – 27 November 2021 pic.twitter.com/tfcau3LjBU

— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) November 23, 2021

SAWS also warned that Knysna, Bitou, George, Swellendam and other areas along the Garden Route is expected to experience more localised flooding in the days to come.

Here’s Western Cape Disaster Management head Colin Deiner:

“The situation in the Garden Route is stabilised and a lot of the potential damage was prevented by a lot of preparation work by the disaster management centre on Sunday.

The biggest concern that we now have is the severe weather warning for the Overberg, Garden Route and Central Karoo towards the weekend,” he added.

George has suffered the most from the flooding nightmare, with a lack of clean water supply in major areas, 49 schools closed and damage to crucial infrastructure running into the millions.

This video shows the extent of the damage done:

Keep abreast of the weather changes by following SAWS on Twitter, or check out their map of major warnings over here.

Stay safe and dry, folks, and check out this list of the best books of 2021 while you’re at it.

[sources:weathersa&news24]