GARDEN ROUTE | KAROO NEWS - Very cold wet and windy weather is to persist over the Cape provinces in the week ahead, according to the South African Weather Service (SAWS).
According to a statement issued by the weather service this afternoon (13 June), a well-developed, fast-moving cold front arrives over the Western Cape tomorrow (Wednesday 14 June), introducing very cold, rainy weather to all three of the Cape provinces.
In addition, strong, gusty westerly winds over the interior of the Western Cape are expected to accompany the passage of the cold front.
Given the dramatic drop in temperature, combined with persistent wet and windy conditions in the days ahead, small stock farmers are strongly encouraged to take mitigative action at an early stage to prevent stock losses due to exposure.
The arrival of the cold frontal system will be the first in a succession of such systems, expected to pass through the Cape provinces in the week ahead, on an almost daily basis.
Cold, windy conditions with occasional showers will therefore be a persistent feature of the weather over the southern half of the country, continuing until well after the long weekend.
Heavy rainfall
The latest output from prediction suggest that heavy rainfall may occur over parts of the Western Cape on Wednesday 14 June, persisting on Thursday 15 June.
Typically, the presence of higher topography and especially mountainous areas tends to markedly enhance local rainfall through orographic uplift, says Weather SA.
The western, or windward, side of hills and mountains of the Western and Northern Cape can therefore expect to receive upwards of 100 mm of rainfall on Wednesday, with further significant rainfall of the order of 50 mm or more, persisting on Thursday.
SAWS has issued a Level 6 Orange warning for disruptive rainfall, expected to affect particularly the Cape Town CBD and Metropole as well as the Winelands area.
Strong, gusty winds (possibly gusting beyond gale-force) are anticipated over much of the interior of Western Cape and Eastern Cape tomorrow and Thursday.
High-sided vehicles travelling along major roads and highways could be at risk of being severely buffeted by crosswinds. Drivers of such vehicles are encouraged to reduce speed and to exercise due caution in this regard.
Gale force winds
Strong to gale force winds are expected to occur along the Western Cape coast between Saldanha Bay and Plettenberg Bay on Wednesday and Thursday, combined with very rough sea conditions of 4,5 to 5,0m, which will lead to difficulty in navigation at sea and may cause problems for small marine vessels.
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