adminCape Town — South Africans should prepare themselves for an approaching intense cold front, the South Africa Weather Service said yesterday.
“The cold front is making landfall in the Western Cape [on Friday] afternoon and is expected to bring heavy rainfall, which could lead to localised flooding,” forecaster Vanetia Phakula said.
Parts of the Cape Metropole, Overberg, and the Cape Winelands could experience localised flooding from rain expected until today.
There was also a possibility of snow overnight into this morning over high-lying areas of the Western Cape, extending into mountainous southern regions of the Northern Cape.
“This will extend to the Eastern Cape by late afternoon on Saturday, with a possibility of snowfall in high-lying areas,” Phakula said.
Chapman’s Peak Drive, in Cape Town, had to be temporarily closed because of strong winds yesterday, the provincial transport department said.
“Wind speeds of close to 110km an hour have been recorded,” spokesperson Al-Ameen Kafaar said.
Those travelling between Hout Bay and the Atlantic Seaboard were advised to seek alternate routes.
Strong winds frequently herald cold fronts.
Phakula said cold temperatures over the Western, Eastern, and southern Cape today would spread into the central parts of the country, hitting KwaZulu-Natal tomorrow and reaching Gauteng by Tuesday.
The forecast for the Durban July Handicap was warm, with an expected high of 29°C, with a chance of isolated evening showers.
The Eastern Cape and Western Cape would start to warm up on Monday and by Wednesday the cold front should have left the country.
This weather pattern was typical for this time of the year, she said. — AFP
derick.khumalo