A South African tribesman walks in the rain in Umtata, in South Africa’s Eastern Cape, on November 18, 2009. Image: AFP/Alexander Joe.
Cold front: 100 to 200mm of rain expected in parts of Eastern Cape
The South African Weather Service warned of heavy rainfall ranging from 100 to 200mm and raised concerns about flooding.
A South African tribesman walks in the rain in Umtata, in South Africa’s Eastern Cape, on November 18, 2009. Image: AFP/Alexander Joe.
The cold front, which made landfall on Thursday, is moving over the interior of the Western Cape and Eastern Cape and will bring cloudy and cold conditions to both provinces.
READ: Fourteen children injured in bakkie-taxi collision in Carletonville
100-200mm of rainfall expected in Eastern Cape
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) said cold and rainy conditions are expected to last throughout the weekend.
“The most important and significant aspect regarding the weather for this weekend, is that numeric weather prediction models suggest that significantly heavy rainfall, of the order of 100 to 200 mm is likely to occur over the eastern parts of Eastern Cape on Saturday, 13 May, specifically between East London and Port St Johns, including the adjacent interior regions,” said the weather service in a statement about the heavy rainfall and flooding in parts of the Eastern Cape on Friday, 12 May.
READ: DIRCO summons US ambassador over arms supply to Russia allegations
Cold front will see daytime temperatures drop
Snowfall is expected over the mountainous regions of all three Cape provinces and given the extended cold spell and wet weather, farmers of small stock are advised to move animals to dry shelters at lower elevations.
The weather service also advised that only well-experienced and prepared hikers should take to the trails in the Western and Eastern Cape this weekend and also the Drakensberg region of KwaZulu-Natal as there is the risk of hypothermia in mountainous areas if hikers get lost, injured or are ill-prepared.
“Daytime temperatures for the weekend are expected to be of the order of 12 to 16°C over the interior of the Cape provinces on Friday, with cold, showery conditions spreading into the Free State, North West, Gauteng, Mpumalanga and KZN during the weekend,” said the weather service.
READ: Dr Pashy threatens to sue Minister Motsoaledi for defamation
