Cold front to hit WC, NC from Wednesday - SAWS

Briefing media at the National Press Club on Monday afternoon, the service predicts heavy rainfall in the western parts of the Western Cape, which could result in localised flooding.

The weather service’s head of disaster risk reduction, Rudzani Malala, says the icy, wet conditions are expected to last until Friday.

“Cold to very cold conditions can be expected, along with possible snowfall over the western mountain ranges of the Western Cape, spreading into the south-western interior of the Northern Cape. For maritime, gale-force winds and very rough seas with wave heights between 5.5 metres and 7.5 metres along the coastline of the Northern Cape and Western Cape.”

Gauteng residents can brace themselves for a drop in temperatures from Friday.

“Temperatures will drop, but this is expected on Friday. It’s just a drop in temperatures, we don’t have rainfall expected with this system, but most of the damaging winds and damaging rains are expected for the south-western parts,” said meteorologist Lehlohonolo Thobela.

He says temperatures could drop to 10-15 degrees in Gauteng.

This latest warning comes as the country is still reeling from deadly weather conditions in the Eastern Cape.

The death toll from the devastation is nearing 100, as rescue teams continue to scour riverbanks and other areas where raging waters may have carried victims.

READ: Eastern Cape mourns flood victims

Earlier this month, the SAWS issued high-level warnings of destructive rains.

“Mthatha measured around 108 millimetres over 24 hours. We also had stations that measured around 50 millimetres or more, and in the areas' extreme of the eastern parts, some areas reported about 80 -100 millimetres,” Thobela explained.

According to acting Premier Mlungisi Mvoko, with assessments continuing, the damage to infrastructure was sitting at an estimated R4 billion by last week.

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