Cape Town is bracing for storm

KEEP your woollies handy and stay indoors as the City of Cape Town warned yesterday of high seas and gale-force winds, with the possibility of flooding in areas of the city and the Cape Winelands region.

Although not expected to be as severe as the last storm, Capetonians are nonetheless asked to take the necessary precautions against the expected inclement weather.

JP Smith, mayoral committee member for safety and security; and social services, said the City’s Disaster Risk Management Centre (DRMC) had been advised by the South African Weather Service of severe weather, including:

• Gale-force north-westerly winds of 60-75km/h expected between Table Bay and Cape Agulhas yesterday afternoon into thismorning;

• High seas with wave heights of approximately 6m last night, subsiding by this afternoon;

• The possibility of flooding in parts of the Cape metropole and the southern parts of the Cape Winelands early this morning.

Smith said the DRMC was on standby to co-ordinate any emergency response that may be required as a result of the expected weather conditions.

“We call on residents to report any weather-related emergencies to the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre by dialling 021 480 7700 from a cellphone or 107 from a landline,” Smith said.