Alerts ring across Twitter as Cape Town’s Wednesday storm bears closer

Weather is usually a subject of awkward small talk, but in Cape Town in 2017 it’s all everyone is talking about.

While the city’s dam levels have dropped to just over 19% this week, today also sees what could be one of the city’s most vicious storms in 30 years.

Cape Town’s winter storm coverage:

#StormHelen: Twitter names Cape Town’s storm after Helen Zille
Track Cape Town’s storm in realtime with these 3 free resources

A number of warnings have been issued this week by a slew of official sources, from the South African Weather Service (SAWS) to the Western Cape local government. And they’re all saying the same thing: expect this cold front to be fierce.

Cape Town: expect around ‘100 000 Olympic sized swimming pools’ to fall within the next few days

How fierce? The South African National Defence Force is reportedly also on standby.

Mother nature still keeping her promise. Expect rain to move in along west south-west coast by Tuesday night. Keep updated @SAWeatherServic pic.twitter.com/KHdrhXdKBx

— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) June 5, 2017

Watch: 7 June 2017: Gale force-strong gale force (70 to 90km/h) expected along coastal areas of WC on Wed+Thu spreading to EC south coast.

— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) June 5, 2017

Cold front on track, will cause gale force winds along south-west coast between Cape Columbine and Cape Agulhas later today+rain by evening pic.twitter.com/vB1UwjMIDp

— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) June 6, 2017

SAWS expects gales of up to 90km/h to hit the Cape Town metropolitan area, while around “100 000 Olympic sized swimming pools” could fall in the city in the next two days, according to international meteorologist Derek Van Dam.

#WinterStorm to dump a Water Equiv. of 100,000 Olympic Sized Swimming Pools in City of #CapeTown But is it enough? https://t.co/26ytrgtog7 pic.twitter.com/PR6Dj7qU4w

— Derek Van Dam (@VanDamCNN) June 5, 2017

Twitter at large is also expecting the worst.

Longing for rain. But what is coming from late Tuesday night is a deluge. Pls prepare. bigger storm than we have experienced for years.

— Helen Zille (@helenzille) June 5, 2017

Cape Town social media rn pic.twitter.com/Go703fAQ6U

— Richard Marais (@richymarais) June 6, 2017

Cape Town is collectively freaking out about the long-awaited rain tomorrow! It promises to be quite a storm! Any good hashtag suggestions? pic.twitter.com/uxY8NjlINS

— Love Cape Town (@lovecapetown) June 6, 2017

Cape Town needs some of that typical soaking winter rain that lasts 5 days. Storms will cause carnage and result in devastation.

— 🦈 James AF 🦉 (@JamesJamesAF) June 5, 2017

Expect more comments about the weather this week on social media.

If you’re set to brave the storm tomorrow, or simply wish to keep tabs on Cape Town’s weather from a safe distance, follow this list of weather alert-tweeting accounts right here.

According to Wunderground, the rain is set to begin around 6pm SAST, and last until midday Thursday.