FRANSCHHOEK, SOUTH AFRICA – 1 JULY 2020: A truck blown over by wind on Franschhoek Pass on July 01, 2021 in Franschhoek, South Africa. The South African Weather Services (SAWS) has warned of gale force winds, with possible gusts of 100km/h over parts of the Northern, Western and Eastern Cape as well as disruptive rainfall for Cape Town and the Cape Winelands. (Photo by Gallo Images/ER Lombard)
LEVEL 4 weather warning: Wind to reach 100km/h in Western Cape
The South African Weather Service said an intense weather system will result in strong to gale force winds in the Western Cape.
FRANSCHHOEK, SOUTH AFRICA – 1 JULY 2020: A truck blown over by wind on Franschhoek Pass on July 01, 2021 in Franschhoek, South Africa. The South African Weather Services (SAWS) has warned of gale force winds, with possible gusts of 100km/h over parts of the Northern, Western and Eastern Cape as well as disruptive rainfall for Cape Town and the Cape Winelands. (Photo by Gallo Images/ER Lombard)
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) issued a Yellow Level 4 weather warning for the Western Cape on Tuesday afternoon, 23 November. The province has been buffeted by strong winds for about a week now; however, the latest warning only kicks in from Thursday, 25 November.
100 KM/H GUSTS A POSSIBILITY
The weather service said an intense weather system will result in a strong to gale force south-east to easterly force wind – between 60 to 70 km/h or gusting 80 to 100 km/h – between Saldana Bay and Plettenberg Bay from Thursday afternoon at 13:00 until Saturday evening, 27 November, at 18:00.
Away from the coast, strong to gale force north-easterly winds will affect the eastern Namakwa District in the Northern Cape and Western Cape. The weather conditions are expected to spread to the Garden Route by Friday.
“Saturday north-westerlies will develop along the Northern Cape coast where it will be strong to near gale,” said SAWS.
Over the previous weekend, the weather service issued a lesser warning. In the Yellow Level 2 advisory for wind, SAWS said the Cape Doctor was expected to reach 80 to 85 km/h along the coast – between Gansbaai and Saldanha Bay – and in the City of Cape Town area.
UPDATE: Rare LEVEL 8 alert issued for Thursday
LEVEL 4 WEATHER WARNING IMPACTS
- Rough and choppy conditions are expected at sea, which could cause small vessels and watercrafts to take on water and capsize.
- Small harbours and beachfront activities may be disrupted.
- Localised damage to formal and informal settlements is a possibility.
- High sided vehicles may be at risk of being blown over by the strong crosswinds.
- There is a possibility of runaway fires.
