Garden Route braces for intense cold fronts with heavy rain, strong winds and snow warnings

GARDEN ROUTE | KAROO NEWS - A series of intense cold fronts is set to batter the western parts of the Western Cape and the southern Namakwa District of the Northern Cape from Sunday to Tuesday (10-12 May), bringing disruptive rainfall, damaging winds, dangerous waves and possible snowfall to higher areas.

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued several orange and yellow impact-based warnings for the period:

A. Orange level 8 warning for disruptive rainfall leading to flooding of roads, bridges and formal and informal settlements, mudslides and danger to life due to fast flowing rivers is expected over the mountainous regions of the Drakenstein, Stellenbosch, the western parts of the Theewaterskloof, Breede Valley and Witzenberg local municipalities of the Western Cape from Sunday to Tuesday (10-12 May).

B. Orange level 6 warning for disruptive rainfall leading to flooding of roads, low-lying bridges, and formal as well as informal settlements is expected over the West Coast, Cape Winelands, City of Cape Town, and western parts of the Overberg Districts of the Western Cape from Sunday to Tuesday (10-12 May).

C. Orange level 6 warning for damaging winds and waves leading to danger to navigation at sea and damage to coastal infrastructure is expected along the coast between Lambert's Bay and Plettenberg Bay (Western Cape) from Sunday to Tuesday (10-12May).

D. Orange level 5 warning for damaging interior winds leading to damage of formal and informal settlements, power interruptions and closure of some routes due to falling trees is expected over parts of the Cape Winelands and western parts of the Central Karoo Districts of the Western Cape from Sunday to Tuesday (10-12 May).

E. Yellow level 4 warning for damaging winds and waves leading to danger to navigation at sea is expected along the coast between Alexander Bay to Lambert's Bay (Western Cape) from Sunday to Tuesday (10-12 May).

F. Yellow level 2 warning for damaging winds leading to localised damage of informal settlements, falling trees and localised problems for high-sided vehicles on prone routes is expected over parts of the West Coast, City of Cape Town, Overberg and Central Karoo Districts as well as the Kannaland Municipality of the Western Cape, including the southern Namakwa District of the Northern Cape from Sunday to Tuesday (10-12 May).

G. Yellow level 2 warning for disruptive snowfall leading to loss of vulnerable livestock, disruption of traffic due to icy roads and possible closure of mountain passes is expected over the Karoo Hoogland municipality of the Northern Cape and in places over the Cape Winelands District of the Western Cape from Sunday to Tuesday (10-12 May).

The public, especially the elderly, and small stock farmers are advised that very cold, wet and windy conditions, as well as snow on the high-lying areas, are expected over the southern parts of the Namakwa District (Northern Cape) and western interior of the Western Cape from Sunday to Tuesday.

Garden Route temperature outlook (approximate max/min in °C)

Saturday 9 May: George 17/12; Mossel Bay 17/13; Knysna 18/12; Plettenberg Bay 18/11.
Sunday 10 May: George 16/11; Mossel Bay 16/11; Knysna 17/11; Plettenberg Bay 19/12.
Monday 11 May: George 17/12; Mossel Bay 17/13; Knysna 18/12; Plettenberg Bay 19/12.
Tuesday 12 May: George 14/12; Mossel Bay 14/12; Knysna 16/12; Plettenberg Bay 16/12.

Residents are urged to prepare for possible power disruptions, flooded roads and hazardous driving conditions. Motorists should avoid low-lying areas and mountain passes where closures may occur.

Farmers should secure livestock, particularly in higher areas prone to snow and cold snaps. Coastal users are warned of dangerous sea conditions.