A few weeks after disruptive rain and floods hit the Western Cape and Eastern Cape, heavy rain is once again predicted for the two provinces. Cape Town can also expect heavy thunderstorms this weekend.
The South African Weather Service (SAWD) said on Friday that a cut-off low pressure system is in the process of developing over the southern Atlantic Ocean, southwest of the Western Cape.
This system is developing rapidly and is expected to bring heavy rain to the West Coast as early as this evening.
Widespread showers and thunderstorms can be expected on Saturday over parts of the Western Cape, including the Cape Wineland, Overberg, Garden Route and the central Karoo, as well as in the Eastern Cape.
The weather service warns that the southern parts of the Northern Cape may also be affected by severe storms before the storm moves eastwards on Sunday.
“The shear low will increase rapidly over the weekend as it migrates eastward. By Sunday, most of the thunderstorms will have cleared over the Western and Northern Cape, with the focus shifting to the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, where further rainfall is expected to continue.”
Numerical models of weather forecasts indicate 100 mm or more of rainfall within a 24-hour period for some locations. An orange level 6 warning against heavy rain has consequently been issued for parts of the Eastern Cape.
MEDIA RELEASE: Heavy rain and storms over the Western and Eastern Cape this weekend pic.twitter.com/31unoE1dV2
— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) October 20, 2023
