[imagesource:saweatherservice]

South Africa has taken a cold plunge the last few days, with the Western Cape particularly bearing the brunt of severe weather that pulled in over the weekend.

The SA Weather Service has now upgraded its weather warning for the Western Cape from level 6 to level 8, again. So this means we’re in for lots more of what we just had. Perhaps worse.

ENCA reported that a ‘cyclone’ has hit the coastal parts of the Western Cape, bringing a storm surge of heavy rain and gale-force wind. Meanwhile, in other parts of the country, snow is falling and covering regions like Ceres, Montagu and Worcester in thick blankets of cold white ice.

Along with the flooding across the province, a severe cold front caused widespread disruptions throughout the province, making things even worse for the most vulnerable of people in the Western Cape.

City of Cape Town Disaster Risk Management Centre spokesperson Sonica Laategan said the Disaster Operations Centre had fielded several calls since Monday, of more flooding in parts of the metropole.

Areas badly affected include parts of Khayelitsha, Joe Slovo Park in Milnerton, Sir Lowry’s Pass Village, Nomzamo in Strand, Mfuleni, Driftsands, Masiphumelele, Dunoon and Gugulethu.

City of Cape Town traffic spokesperson Maxine Bezuidenhout said the storm had affected numerous roads, with several accidents, flooded roadways and obstructions being reported.

From Constantia to Citrusdal, Matroosfontein to Mouille Point, everyone is feeling the storm. Check out some of the footage doing the rounds currently, and brace yourselves, people, it’s not over yet.

The wind was so strong it was blowing a waterfall up the mountain:

Extraordinary video of a waterfall on Table Mountain in this weekend’s storm, with the wind so strong it’s blowing the waterfall upwards.

We’re still expecting a lot of strong wind and rain this week. Please stay safe, City teams are addressing each localised flooding situation… pic.twitter.com/eLyRPTzMSe

— Geordin Hill-Lewis (@geordinhl) July 9, 2024

Here’s Swartrivier in Rondebosch:

Even the Rondebosch golf course:

And what appears to be Newlands:

The extreme conditions reached all the way from Sea Point to Simon’s Town:

 

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Gordon’s Bay was also raging:

 

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The damage has been hectic:

The City’s services continue to address as many of the weather-related impacts as possible, amid the persistent rainfall.

Numerous rivers and canals are at capacity, with some bursting their banks of which Eersteriver in Maccasar.#CTInfo pic.twitter.com/cAWLQfY3db

— City of Cape Town (@CityofCT) July 9, 2024

Stay safe and warm out there if you can, and for those who can’t, consider donating to organisations that are helping the displaced. The Gift of the Givers is assisting families whose homes are flooded in Cape Town. At least 15,000 people had been affected, according to an assessment on Monday.

The Haven Night Shelters also have a Buy A Bed campaign to make warm beds more accessible for people living on the streets.

Most homeless people know that they have to pay shelter fees starting from R15 per night, which is not a goal in itself but more a way to allow homeless adults to learn to take responsibility again. For those who cannot round up enough cash, the “Buy a Bed” campaign allows the community to cover their shelter fees for the first five nights, while also helping the organisation to be more sustainable. They tend to more than 2,500 new clients per year, so your help is highly appreciated.

[source:news24]