Widespread flooding, damaging waves hit Cape Town as cold front moves in
Widespread flooding of roadways occurred in Cape Town on Wednesday.
Image: Armand Hough / Independent Media
Numerous areas in Cape Town were hit with localised flooding caused by heavy rainfall on Monday.
City officials confirmed that many roads were under water due to storm water systems being overwhelmed.
Councillor Rob Quintas warned that roads may be closed at short notice as the heavy downpours continued, but he also pointed out that such flooding usually subsides within an hour of the rainfall slowing down. For that reason, residents are advised to wait before reporting incidents of flooding.
'The sheer volume of ongoing rainfall is causing vleis, rivers and canals to reach capacity. This causes water to back up in the stormwater system and onto our roads which then act as water conduits,' Quintas said.
'Low-lying areas, areas below steep mountainous terrain and areas near canals and other water bodies will experience localised flooding whilst rainfall remains heavy.'
Traffic officers have been assigned to affected areas to help regulate traffic and divert motorists appropriately.
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A Yellow Level 4 warning for damaging waves has been issued by the SAWS.
Image: Armand Hough / Independent Media
Traffic officers are on duty in these areas to help regulate traffic and divert motorists appropriately.
Motorists have been advised to exercise extreme caution and to be on the lookout for obstructions such as fallen tree branches and other debris.
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a Yellow Level 4 warning for damaging waves in the region from Wednesday evening, while Level 2 warnings were issued for damaging winds and disruptive rainfall, with the latter expected to persist until Thursday morning.
What motorists should do when encountering flooded roads
MasterDrive CEO Eugene Herbert advises motorists to avoid driving through pools of water, in which the water comes to the middle of the tyre or higher.
It is best to avoid driving through fast-flowing water altogether as it is very hard to judge its depth, but if you find yourself caught in this situation unexpectedly, Herbert advises driving slowly and steadily through it while in first or second gear.
If you find yourself caught in a full-blown flash flood and you can feel your car losing grip with the road, the best thing to do is to open the door to let some water in, which might help weigh the car down and allow the tyres to grip the road again, Herbert advises.
However, if you are in danger of being swept away, it might be best to abandon the car, if it is possible to do this safely.
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