Four children drowned at sea on new year’s day. Image: Pixabay
Warning: 7m damaging waves expected in the Eastern Cape
Damaging waves between 4.5 0 – 7m are expected along the coast between Plettenberg Bay and Port Edward in the Eastern Cape.
Four children drowned at sea on new year’s day. Image: Pixabay
Damaging waves between 4.5 – 7m are expected along the coast in the Eastern Cape according to the South African Weather Service (SAWS).
The warning was issued on Monday, 31 July and is valid until 16:00 on Tuesday, 1 August.
DAMAGING WAVES IN THE EASTERN CAPE
The weather service said a tight pressure gradient between a cold front and a ridging high is resulting in strong to gale force winds that are enhancing the sea state to 4.5 – 7m along the coast between Plettenberg Bay and Port Edward.
“Further, there is a full moon which could amplify the wave heights even further. Abnormal/rogue waves may be possible in the Agulhas current between Port Alfred and Port Edward,” the weather service on Monday.
ALSO READ: Very rough seas, strong winds and 6m waves in THESE parts of SA
POSSIBLE IMPACTS:
- Disruption to small harbours/ports and difficulty in navigation.
- Abnormal/rogue waves are possible.
- Vessels at risk of taking on water and capsizing.
- Damage to/extensive modification of beaches, dunes and estuaries.
- Risk to medium/large vessels of dragging anchor/breaking mooring lines.
- Disruption to beachfront activities along longer stretches of coastlines and/or uin multiple
ALSO READ: Very rough seas, strong winds and 6m waves in THESE parts of SA
ROUGH SEAS IN PARTS OF SA
SAWS had warned that very rough seas associated with strong winds with wave heights between 4 and 6m can be expected along the west coast from Friday night, spreading along the south coast of the Western Cape on Saturday, to the coast of the Eastern Cape on Saturday night and reaching the KwaZulu-Natal coast on Sunday.
“These conditions may cause disruption to beachfront activities and difficulty in navigation at sea for small to medium vessels. High seas with wave heights between 6 to 7m can also be expected along the south coast of the Western Cape from Saturday afternoon into Sunday, spreading to the Eastern Cape coast on Sunday,” SAWS said.
ALSO READ: Bitterly cold and wet weather conditions expected in KZN today
