Cape Town storm: what’s running, delayed or cancelled in the city

You’ve probably heard the numerous warnings on social media about the weather set to rock Cape Town on Wednesday, but if you haven’t, it’s going to rain.

More than 50mm is expected in certain areas within 24 hours, with wind gusts pushing 90km/h in some parts of the peninsula too.

Cape Town’s winter storm coverage:

Alerts ring across Twitter as Cape Town’s Wednesday storm bears closer
Track Cape Town’s storm in realtime with these 3 free resources
#StormHelen: Twitter names Cape Town’s storm after Helen Zille

Naturally, some people are going to work from home, and thanks to the internet that’s possible in 2017. Others though don’t really have a choice.

So what if you’re among those still forced to head into work, have a flight scheduled to depart from Cape Town International, or planned a leisure trip to the city centre tomorrow?

Here’s a list of what services are set to operate as normal in Cape Town on Wednesday, and what’s shuttering due to the predicted inclement weather.

Last update: Wednesday, 7 June, 4.30pm

Cape Town’s trains, buses, and airport

Cape Town International Airport announced its first major diversion of the day after tweeting. Wednesday morning that there are “currently… no delays.”

“2 Flights diverted – Mango JE339 to East London & SA333 to Johannesburg,” it shared on Twitter around 3.40pm Wednesday.

@capetownint 2 Flights diverted – Mango JE339 to East London & SA333 to Johannesburg :(. Hope we don’t have anymore. Will keep you posted.

— Cape Town Airport (@capetownint) June 7, 2017

“We will keep you updated in the event of any changes. Drive safely and arrive early,” it added.

“Thus far all flights have departed @capetownint. Any changes will be communicated timeously,” it later tweeted.

Currently there are no delays @capetownint. We will keep you updated in the event of any changes. Drive safely and arrive early.

— Cape Town Airport (@capetownint) June 7, 2017

Thus far all flights have departed @capetownint. Any changes will be communicated timeously. Arrive early and travel safely.

— Cape Town Airport (@capetownint) June 7, 2017

“Please note there are currently no delays at present,” it tweeted around 9.30am Wednesday.

Please note there are currently no delays at present.

— Cape Town Airport (@capetownint) June 7, 2017

South African Airways also informed users on Twitter as of Tuesday evening that “all scheduled flights are still operating.” It hasn’t yet issued a further update.

Kulula has also noted as of Tuesday morning that its flight are “all on track for now”. It too has yet to issue an update.

Hello, all scheduled flights are still operating. If there are any changes we will advise. Have a lovely day#FlySAA_Care

— FlySAA Care (@flysaa_care) June 6, 2017

Hi, all on track for now. You can check the status of your flight by using our flight status tool https://t.co/QZHEwgLLhs

— kulula (@kulula) June 6, 2017

Good day, please note we are operational and will update passengers if any delays occur due to adverse weather conditions.

— Cape Town Airport (@capetownint) June 6, 2017

Cape Town’s rapid bus transit system MyCiti confirmed Wednesday morning that “all services are operating as per normal.”

Morning Mihlali, all services are operating as per normal.

— MyCiTi Bus (@MyCiTiBus) June 7, 2017

Cape Town’s rail service Metrorail has advised Wednesday morning that commuters make use of alternative transport.

“Trains on [sic] the Region are delayed in excess of 60+ min due to extreme weather conditions,” it tweeted around 8am Wednesday.

#CapeStorm – SERVICE UPDATE: Trains on the Region are delayed in excess of 60+ min due to extreme weather conditions.

— Metrorail W/Cape (@CapeTownTrains) June 7, 2017

Metrorail previously warned users on both Facebook and Twitter that possible delays will occur on Wednesday due to the inclement weather.

On Tuesday, the operator stated that “Trains are operating tomorrow [Wednesday]” but “anticipated delays should be expected”.

However, around 1am Wednesday morning the operator tweeted that the Northern Line between Wellington and Bellville has been “suspended due to extreme weather conditions.”

“A bus shuttle will operate between Worcester and Wellington” but commuters between Wellington and Bellville are advised to use their own transport, Metrorail added in a later tweet.

The operator also cancelled its service between Muldersvlei and Stellenbosch in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

#ServiceAdvisory Weather Alert Note possible service impact during severe weather conditions. pic.twitter.com/5XprBEKUwv

— Metrorail W/Cape (@CapeTownTrains) June 6, 2017

#CapeStorm #NorthernlineCT
Line between Wellington -Bellville suspended due to extreme weather conditions

— Metrorail W/Cape (@CapeTownTrains) June 6, 2017

#Capestorns WorcesterT3510
Note service impact due to extreme weather conditions pic.twitter.com/Qkoncob3Ei

— Metrorail W/Cape (@CapeTownTrains) June 6, 2017

#CapeStorm #NorthernLineCT
Note service changes on the Muldersvlei Line pic.twitter.com/zD8I9Ufkyw

— Metrorail W/Cape (@CapeTownTrains) June 7, 2017

Popular scenic route Chapman’s Peak Drive, linking Hout Bay to Noordhoek, will also be closed tomorrow.

#Chappies has been closed due to adverse weather conditions. Please use alternative routes where possible and take care on the roads.

— Chapman’s Peak Drive (@ChapmansPeakSA) June 6, 2017

The Hugenot Tunnel on the N1 route is closed to heavy vehicles. The latter are diverted through the Du Toitskloof Pass.

Cape Town – #CapeStorm N1 Route: Huguenot Tunnel: CLOSED to HEAVY VEHICLES – trucks diverted via Du Toitskloof pass

— TrafficSA (@TrafficSA) June 7, 2017

Baden Power Drive (R310 route) running between Muizenberg and Stellenbosch, is closed to traffic at two distinct sections: Eastbound between Muizenberg and Khayelitsha, and Westbound from Strandfontein.

#CapeStorm – NOTE: Baden Powell Drive: EASTBOUND – closed between Muizenberg and Khayelitsha – WESTBOUND – closed from Strandfontein pic.twitter.com/sbQkyAUczd

— TrafficSA (@TrafficSA) June 7, 2017

Cape Town’s other services

The Western Cape education department was one of the first services to announce that it will shutter on Wednesday, and confirmed that schools in the city will too be closed for the day too.

“Schools in the Western Cape will be CLOSED tomorrow (7 June 2017) due to the severe weather warning,” it tweeted.

Schools will however reopen on Thursday.

Schools in the Western Cape will be CLOSED tomorrow (7 June 2017) due to the severe weather warning: https://t.co/YFjaXq1lpK. @WCEDnews pic.twitter.com/ee1xMPDZ35

— Western Cape Gov (@WesternCapeGov) June 6, 2017

Cape Town’s four major tertiary education facilities also confirmed that students needn’t attend classes Wednesday.

The University of Cape Town was one of the first to announce the cancellation of classes.

VC Desk: The executive of UCT has taken the decision to close campus tomorrow, 7 June 2017, as a precaution. https://t.co/YN4tj6KbwW [1/2] pic.twitter.com/1OoAhkGxE3

— UCT (@UCT_news) June 6, 2017

“After consulting with the Executive Management it has been decided that exams will be suspended tomorrow (June 7). Staff members are encouraged to work from home,” the Cape Peninsula University of Technology wrote on Facebook.

“All SU exams for tomorrow (7 June) postponed due to #capestorm,” Stellenbosch University tweeted late Tuesday. It also announced that libraries on campus will be shuttered on Wednesday.

All SU exams for tomorrow (7 June) postponed due to #capestorm warning in WC. More info RE rescheduling soon on https://t.co/ZlNKzdiYkU.

— Stellenbosch Univ (@StellenboschUni) June 6, 2017

The University of The Western Cape also announced the cancellation of exams on Wednesday.

“After careful consideration, the Executive Management of the University of the Western Cape has taken the decision to close campus for tomorrow, 7 June 2017. This decision is not taken lightly, considering the upcoming examinations,” the institution wrote on Facebook.

If you’re daring enough to swim in the massive expected swell tomorrow (editor’s note: we don’t advise you do), there will be no Shark Spotters on duty.

No Shark Spotters on duty tomorrow, 7 June 2017, due to extreme weather conditions predicted. #BeSharkSmart

— Shark Spotters (@SharkSpotters) June 6, 2017

It’s unlikely that Table Mountain Cableway will be operating on Wednesday due to high winds, but the service hasn’t yet informed users on Twitter or Facebook about possible operation issues.

We are closed: adverse weather conditions. Temperature at the top is cold, wind strength is strong, visibility good #tmweather

— Table Mountain C/Way (@TableMountainCa) June 6, 2017

Table Mountain National Park (operated by SANParks) announced at 10am Wednesday closures to key areas within the park across the peninsula.

“Due to adverse weather conditions Table Mountain National Park has closed the following locations at Cape Point: Smitswinkel to Kanonkop, Buffelsfontein Visitor Centre and the Shipwreck Trail at Olifantsbos,” it wrote on a Facebook post.

“In addition the wind is blowing at between 85kph and 95 kph at Cape Point, with heavy bouts of rain. The funicular will not be operating today and the Two Oceans restaurant is closed.”

Popular southern suburbs mall Cavendish Square announced that it shuttered its doors around midday Wednesday “severe weather conditions in the Claremont area”.

Due to the severe weather conditions in the Claremont area, we have decided to close the shopping centre, as a precautionary measure.

— Cavendish Square (@CavendishCT) June 7, 2017

We’ll be updating this article as required throughout Wednesday.

Feature image: Ben Crouch via Flickr (CC 2.0 BY, resized)