Batten down the hatches
THE South African Weather Service (SAWS) has warned of inclement weather that would likely hit parts of the province last night until late this evening.
SAWS warned of localised damage to formal and informal settlements, where some transport routes and travel services may be affected by winds and falling trees.
Dark clouds gathered over much of the Peninsula early last night and wind speeds picked up throughout the day.
The weather service also warned that high-sided vehicles were at risk of being blown over due to crosswinds on the N1, N7, Huguenot Tunnel, the R321 and R43.
The Cape Town weather office also warned of coastal north-westerly winds travelling at 60-80km/h, with effects including disruption to small harbours and beachfront activities, expected between Table Bay and Cape Agulhas.
“Therefore, some journeys will require longer travel times. Localised disruption of small harbours is possible for a short period.
“Due to strong winds and high wave heights, difficulty in navigation is likely. Small vessels and personal water crafts (kayaks) are at risk of taking on water and capsizing.
“Localised disruption to beachfront activities can be expected,” SAWS warned.
The weather service also warned of sudden crosswinds when travelling, especially between buildings, falling trees or power lines.
“Small boats must stay away from the open sea and seek the shelter of a harbour, river estuary or protected bay.
“Ensure that all temporary structures are well anchored,” it said.
The City’s Disaster Risk Management spokesperson, Chantel Alexander, said all City services and external agencies were on standby to deal with any potential effects from the predicted adverse weathers.
“Residents are urged to please exercise caution and to contact the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre on 021 480 7700 (from a cellphone) or 107 from a landline, in the event of an emergency,” she said.
Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning MEC Anton Bredell said disaster centres were “permanently” on standby around the province, due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
“Should the weather situation require urgent intervention, the teams will be on hand to facilitate such assistance,” he said.
The rain comes as the total capacity of dams supplying the Cape Town metro has decreased to 74.5%, a 1.8% decrease from 76.3% last week.
Daily water consumption for the same period decreased to 803 million litres a day, compared to 824 million litres last week.
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) spokesperson, Sputnik Ratau, said the weekly hydrological report on Monday indicated more than a 3% drop of the combined average dam levels in the provincial water supply system, which was currently at 73.83%, as compared to 77.24% last week,
“DWS encourages all water users to use water sparingly, as the bulk of the Western Cape receives winter rainfall,” Ratau said.