Traffic leaving Khayelitsha on 20 / 5 / 2019 – Photo: HerMajestyNtosh / Twitter
Traffic leaving Khayelitsha on 20 / 5 / 2019 – Photo: HerMajestyNtosh / Twitter
It’s all fun and games until the roads are blocked-up. Cape Town traffic has been disrupted on Monday due to the large amount of rain that fell overnight. It’s the biggest storm of 2019, in a region still in fear of drought.
However, what may be a victory for the local water warriors is a spanner in the works for commuters. Major routes have been disrupted as the rainfall continues throughout the morning. The cold front isn’t expected to dissipate until later in the afternoon.
Many of the hold-ups reported during rush-hour have been directly caused by the wet weather. Driving becomes a more treahcerous pursuit once the heavens open, and that’s showing on the roads already:
Meanwhile, it’s not just the commuter paths that are impacted: Chapman’s Peak is also closed to the public because of the adverse weather conditions. The high rainfall at the tourist favourite has made driving across the mountainside highly dangerous. Ou Kaapse Weg will be your alternative route from Cape Town to Noordhoek.
Cape Town – Chapman’s Peak Drive: ROAD CLOSED due to high rain fall #Chappies
— Rob Beezy (@TrafficSA) May 20, 2019
It’s likely that disruptions will continue throughout Monday, as flood alerts have been put in place across the Western Cape until 21:00 this evening. Most of the rain has fallen overnight, but showers are going to persist throughout the day. The Cape Winelands and West Coast are also set for more downpours.