Cape Town sees rain, floods and snow in one crazy weekend of weather

You asked for rain, Cape Town. And you’ve finally received it in bucket loads.

Just as June drew to a close, a strong cold front pushed its way across the Western Cape bringing with it stormy conditions to much of the province. Cape Town in particular saw torrential rain and flooding early Sunday, and bitterly cold temperatures into Monday morning.

THE LATEST: After the storm, Cape Town’s dam levels are now at 48.3%

Raining hard in Tamboerskloof Cape Town. Stay in doors because you will have to swim pic.twitter.com/3kPRpHmbyd

— Elaine Corbett (@ElaineCorbett7) July 1, 2018

Cape Town now, it is pouring with rain, 1st if July 📹Gerhard Söhnge @SAWeatherServic @maroelamedia @venter_annette @AfricaWeather_ @landbou @YouMagazine @netwet @JoelGuy_ @SABCNewsOnline @Die_NANB @TshwaneWeather @JoelGuy_ @TygerBurger @dieCourant @AgriWesKaap pic.twitter.com/83vyC7AcqB

— ReenvalSA (@ReenvalSA) July 1, 2018

Your best bet is to stay indoors because such scenes are all over #CapeTown #CapeStorm #CapeFloods 📹🎥 SUPPLIED pic.twitter.com/mLf7uXO8kN

— Anele Mfazwe 🇿🇦 (@mfazwe) July 1, 2018

Hailstorms were also prevalent in a few areas across the city.

#CapeTown hail storm 🌧 pic.twitter.com/jjR9JqJHq9

— Rhiedwaan (@rhiedwaan) July 1, 2018

Cape Town – Boyes Drive: HAIL – Icy road surface in Muizenberg – proceed with caution pic.twitter.com/ECHIOPxNLw

— Rob Beezy (@TrafficSA) July 2, 2018

Snow also fell across the Western Cape and Eastern Cape’s tallest peaks.

Matroosberg snow at reception this morning pic.twitter.com/chHsvefh0x

— Snow Report SA (@SnowReportSA) July 2, 2018

#snow outside @Matroosberg @SnowReportSA 09h00 this morning pic.twitter.com/RrClvQbnOo

— Norval Kriel (@TinyLally) July 2, 2018

There are now reports of efforts to rescue people trapped in snow on the Theronsberg between Ceres and Touwsriviers. Pic via Andries Douglas, Ceres. pic.twitter.com/e0P6zdUuGu

— Lester Kiewit (@lesterkk) July 2, 2018

Awesome snowfall on the Franschhoek mountains this morning pic.twitter.com/aj6yYPp0mg

— Rob Armstrong (@rambowine) July 2, 2018

@SnowReportSA It’s cold outside Sneeuberg mountains Eastern Cape pic.twitter.com/6qSOXcMWev

— Kitty Viljoen (@KittyViljoen) July 2, 2018

Rainfall figures according to the South African Weather Service adds some context. Ceres, Villiersdorp, Grabouw, Jonkershoek, Strand and Ceres are all relatively near to some of the Western Cape’s largest dams, including the Wemmershoek, Theewaterskloof, and Steenbras.

Brilliant rainfall fig (02 July) recorded in the western parts of Western Cape over the last 24 hours. The majority of the region received about 30mm of rain.
Ceres: 124mm
Villiersdorp: 67.4mm
Tulbach: 66.2mm
Grabouw: 65mm
Kirstenbosch: 52.8mm
Jonkershoek: 52.0mm
Strand: 41mm

— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) July 2, 2018

And speaking of dams, as of 29 June, the combined level of Cape Town’s major dams stood slightly above 44%. That’ll likely see a substantial increase following this weekend’s weather.