Update #3, Tuesday 30 July, 10am: It was a blustery, rainy night for Cape Town, but judging by the latest satellite image posted by the South African Weather Service, the bulk of the storm has passed.
“On and off rain and showers expected today in the south-west. Strong winds will continue in the western half of SA today. It will be fine and dry for the remainder of the country,” the national weather authority tweeted on Tuesday morning.
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A number of warnings, watches and advisories are still in place across the Western Cape, Northern Cape, and Eastern Cape today. Take heed of all here.
Morning satellite image (30 July 2019). On and off rain and showers expected today in the south-west. Strong winds will continue in the western half of SA today. It will be fine and dry for the remainder of the country. Have a good day. pic.twitter.com/eBY8j9LOcG
— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) July 30, 2019
Update #2, Monday 29 July, 5pm: According to the latest satellite image from the South African Weather Service, the cold front is currently “to the south-west” of the Western Cape.
“Gale force winds are expected along the SW coast between Table Bay and Cape Agulhas tonight into [tomorrow] with strong winds over the entire [Western Cape] and southern [Northern Cape tommorrow] (Tue),” it reiterated.
PM satellite image (29 July 2019). Cold front to the south-west with rain in the SW Cape tonight into tom Tuesday. Gale force winds are expected along the SW coast between Table Bay and Cape Agulhas tonight into tom with strong winds over the entire WC and southern NC tom (Tue). pic.twitter.com/kMhZmcG7ge
— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) July 29, 2019
Update #1, 29 July, 4.30am: Someone at the South African Weather Service is working late on Sunday, issuing a new update for the cold front en route to Cape Town on Monday night.
And yes, it’s still set to arrive on Monday evening, and with it a forecast of gale force winds, flooding in places, and heavy rain.
We’ve summarised additional things to note that SAWS added in updated graphics:
- The heaviest rain will fall over the mountainous regions of the southwestern Cape. Up to 55mm is possible.
- Rainfall amounts of between 15mm-25mm are “widely expected” in the region.
- A “Watch” is in place for “heavy rain leading to localised flooding” across the “Cape Metropole, western parts of the Cape Winelands and Overberg” from early on Tuesday morning.
- A “Warning” for gale force wind up to 80km/h, blowing from the NW, is expected “along the coast between Table Bay and Cape Agulhas from Monday evening into Tuesday afternoon.
- A similar “Watch” is in place for the “Cape Metropole, Cape Winelands, Central Karoo, and Overberg” but should “moderate” by Tuesday evening.
- And lastly, SAWS brings to attention the maximum temperatures along the South African eastern coastline on Tuesday, which could top 31°C in places. This is due to “offshore flow” — air moving from land towards the sea. But it won’t last long as temperatures are set to become “much cooler on Wednesday”.
For a more intricate look at the upcoming system, see the tweet below.
#Coldfront Update: Moving closer to Western Cape. Strong to gale force #winds localized #flooding and heavy #rain still in the forecast for Monday night into Tuesday (30 July 2019). On the other hand, WARM maximum temps expected in EC, KZN on Monday and Tuesday (29-30 July 2019). pic.twitter.com/5uHUKFbSGW
— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) July 29, 2019
Original article: It’s hard to believe that there ever was a drought in Cape Town in 2017 with all the rain we’re getting this winter. And more of it is expected too, thanks to yet another cold front arriving on Monday.
The South African Weather Service on Saturday issued an update on Twitter warning of another system bringing “heavy rain and strong gale force winds” to the Western Cape.
#UPDATE : Another #coldfront is expected to hit the Western Cape on Monday night into Tuesday (30 July 2019). Heavy #rain and strong to gale force #winds are expected in places. Light snowfall is possible over western mountains of WC and southern mountains of NC. pic.twitter.com/U6tl7N1y29
— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) July 27, 2019
“Light snowfall is possible over western mountains of [the Western Cape] and southern mountains of [the Northern Cape]” too.
The latest front comes less than a week after arguably July’s wettest system thus far, which has pushed dam levels in the city beyond the 70% mark this week.
Notably, two of the city’s dams too — the larger Berg River Dam, and smaller Steenbras Upper Dam — are both beyond the 100% full mark.
SAWS noted that the cold front in question will arrive on Monday evening and affect Cape Town and surrounds for much of Tuesday.
Feature image: Andy Walker/Memeburn
