Western Cape prepares for severe weather and flooding as cold front intensifies
A vehicle navigates through flooded streets as heavy rains lash the Western Cape. Authorities have urged residents to avoid low-lying areas and motorists to exercise extreme caution amid severe weather warnings and icy road conditions.
Image: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers
Western Cape residents are being urged to stay vigilant as cold, wet and windy conditions continue to sweep across the province, prompting widespread flooding, hazardous conditions, and a Level 4 weather warning for damaging waves.
Anton Bredell, Western Cape MEC for Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, confirmed on Thursday that disaster management teams remain fully mobilised as severe weather persists.
'The cold and wet weather is set to continue today, and the public must stay alert and keep safe during the winter weather,' said Minister Bredell.
'High-risk areas continue to be low-lying, flood-prone informal settlements and communities near rivers, streams, and stormwater channels.'
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a Level 4 warning for damaging waves along parts of the coast, with Level 2 warnings in place for disruptive rainfall and strong winds, both inland and along the coastline. The system is currently shifting along the southern coast, with strong gusts forecast in the Overberg and Garden Route areas.
Municipalities across the province have reported ongoing flood impacts. The City of Cape Town has experienced localised flooding in both formal and informal settlements, disrupting roads and stormwater infrastructure.
In the Cape Winelands District, the Breede River has overflowed, forcing the closure of the Slanghoek and Scherpenheuwel bridges as well as Slanghoek Road at the low-water drift. Worcester's Merwestraat is also under observation, while the Drakenstein area is grappling with rising water levels.
An early morning Hazmat incident in Wellington added to the region's emergency concerns when a tanker carrying nitric acid overturned. Fortunately, the container remained sealed and no hazardous material leaked.
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'There were no injuries,' said Wouter Kriel, Spokesperson for Minister Anton Bredell.
'The road remains temporarily closed, but access to Groenberg Primary School is being maintained. Motorists are advised to use Hermon Road as an alternative route.'
On the West Coast, including Saldanha Bay, emergency response teams have been deployed, and local authorities have activated emergency protocols.
Bredell expressed gratitude to the province's disaster relief teams.
'We call on the public to stay alert, stay informed, and stay safe. Your cooperation is vital in helping us protect lives and reduce risk during this period of severe weather," said Bredell.
"Emergency services are fully mobilised and remain on 24/7 standby to respond as needed. We extend our sincere thanks to all frontline teams, municipal partners, and volunteers for their swift, tireless efforts in assisting affected communities.'
Safety Tips for Residents: Avoid driving or walking through floodwaters. Even shallow water can be dangerous.
Stay away from rivers, canals, and low-lying areas prone to flooding.
Remain indoors where possible and monitor updates from official channels.
The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has issued a stern warning to motorists, especially those travelling through the mountainous regions of the Western and Northern Cape, where snow and icy road conditions are expected to create dangerous driving environments.
'Severe weather conditions are expected from Thursday and Friday with rain and showers over the central and western parts of the country,' RTMC cautioned.
'Motorists must take extra caution when driving in snowy conditions.'
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IOL News
3 days ago
- IOL News
Western Cape prepares for severe weather and flooding as cold front intensifies
A vehicle navigates through flooded streets as heavy rains lash the Western Cape. Authorities have urged residents to avoid low-lying areas and motorists to exercise extreme caution amid severe weather warnings and icy road conditions. Image: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers Western Cape residents are being urged to stay vigilant as cold, wet and windy conditions continue to sweep across the province, prompting widespread flooding, hazardous conditions, and a Level 4 weather warning for damaging waves. Anton Bredell, Western Cape MEC for Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, confirmed on Thursday that disaster management teams remain fully mobilised as severe weather persists. 'The cold and wet weather is set to continue today, and the public must stay alert and keep safe during the winter weather,' said Minister Bredell. 'High-risk areas continue to be low-lying, flood-prone informal settlements and communities near rivers, streams, and stormwater channels.' The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a Level 4 warning for damaging waves along parts of the coast, with Level 2 warnings in place for disruptive rainfall and strong winds, both inland and along the coastline. The system is currently shifting along the southern coast, with strong gusts forecast in the Overberg and Garden Route areas. Municipalities across the province have reported ongoing flood impacts. The City of Cape Town has experienced localised flooding in both formal and informal settlements, disrupting roads and stormwater infrastructure. In the Cape Winelands District, the Breede River has overflowed, forcing the closure of the Slanghoek and Scherpenheuwel bridges as well as Slanghoek Road at the low-water drift. Worcester's Merwestraat is also under observation, while the Drakenstein area is grappling with rising water levels. An early morning Hazmat incident in Wellington added to the region's emergency concerns when a tanker carrying nitric acid overturned. Fortunately, the container remained sealed and no hazardous material leaked. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading 'There were no injuries,' said Wouter Kriel, Spokesperson for Minister Anton Bredell. 'The road remains temporarily closed, but access to Groenberg Primary School is being maintained. Motorists are advised to use Hermon Road as an alternative route.' On the West Coast, including Saldanha Bay, emergency response teams have been deployed, and local authorities have activated emergency protocols. Bredell expressed gratitude to the province's disaster relief teams. 'We call on the public to stay alert, stay informed, and stay safe. Your cooperation is vital in helping us protect lives and reduce risk during this period of severe weather," said Bredell. "Emergency services are fully mobilised and remain on 24/7 standby to respond as needed. We extend our sincere thanks to all frontline teams, municipal partners, and volunteers for their swift, tireless efforts in assisting affected communities.' Safety Tips for Residents: Avoid driving or walking through floodwaters. Even shallow water can be dangerous. Stay away from rivers, canals, and low-lying areas prone to flooding. Remain indoors where possible and monitor updates from official channels. The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has issued a stern warning to motorists, especially those travelling through the mountainous regions of the Western and Northern Cape, where snow and icy road conditions are expected to create dangerous driving environments. 'Severe weather conditions are expected from Thursday and Friday with rain and showers over the central and western parts of the country,' RTMC cautioned. 'Motorists must take extra caution when driving in snowy conditions.' IOL News
The Citizen
4 days ago
- The Citizen
Eastern Cape faces snow warning after floods leave 101 dead
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Extended weather forecast for Friday and Saturday, 27-28 June 2025: Partly cloudy and cold to cool with isolated showers and rain in places. #saws #SAWeather — SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) June 25, 2025 Snow expected in Eastern Cape high-lying areas Provincial Transport spokesperson Unathi Binqose confirmed that authorities are preparing for challenging weather conditions ahead. 'We have taken note of the Saws warning for less-than-ideal weather conditions in the province this week. 'Snowfall that may affect the flow of traffic in some areas; we are certainly expecting that in some of our high-laying areas, particularly Barkly East,' Binqose said. The transport department is deploying resources to affected areas, with Binqose explaining: 'We'll deploy resources and personnel to those roads that are expected to be affected by this. Things such as graders to remove snow and officers to redirect traffic should there be any road closures.' 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'As of today, 26 June 2025, we can confirm that 101 people have died following the disastrous weather condition that hit our province, with the youngest victim recovered in Mthatha, an infant of about 12 months,' Williams announced. The death toll breakdown shows OR Tambo District accounting for 77 fatalities, Amatole District 10, Buffalo City 5, Chris Hani 5, Joe Gqabi 2, and Sarah Baartman 2. Williams revealed that of the total deaths, 63 were adults and 38 were children, with 32 of the children identified as minors. The MEC noted the emotional toll the disaster has taken on officials. 'Announcing additional fatalities each day since the tragedy began on the 10th of June has placed an immense emotional toll on the provincial government. The repeated need to relay such tragic updates has been both deeply painful and mentally draining to all of us.' Billion needed to address infrastructure damage The floods caused extensive damage across multiple sectors, with infrastructure repair costs estimated at R5.1 billion. Williams broke down the financial impact: 'About R3.2 billion is required across sector departments with R1.8 billion for the municipal infrastructure as per the municipal agency called Misa assessments.' Housing has been severely affected, with 6 869 households impacted province-wide, excluding Nelson Mandela Bay Metro. A total of 4 724 people have been left homeless, while 2 145 homes suffered partial damage. The cost for temporary residential units is estimated at R461 million, though the province has allocated R120 million for immediate needs. Road infrastructure repair costs alone are estimated at R935 million, with the Department of Transport re-prioritising 102 million rand from its budget, leaving a deficit of R832 million. Currently, 29 roads remain closed in Chris Hani and 22 in OR Tambo districts. 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NOW READ: Eastern Cape residents say they've been ignored by government after floods
IOL News
4 days ago
- IOL News
Gauteng residents can expect an icy weekend ahead as temperatures drop significantly
Sunday in Johannesburg offers a similar weather pattern. A frosty morning low of four degrees will give way to a slightly warmer afternoon, reaching around sixteen degrees at its peak. The skies will remain clear throughout, but the unrelenting dry cold will continue to define the weekend's weather. Image: File Gauteng residents should brace themselves for a sharp drop in temperatures this weekend as a significant cold spell grips the province. While the skies are expected to remain clear, the air will turn biting, especially in the early mornings and late evenings. The South African Weather Service has confirmed that the cold front moving across the country will bring no rain, but will tighten its grip with freezing morning lows and crisp, dry air. In Pretoria, Saturday will start off with icy air drifting in from the southeast. The early morning minimum is forecast to hit a chilly four degrees Celsius. The day will gradually warm, but only reach a modest high of sixteen degrees in the afternoon. By late evening, the temperature is expected to dip once again, bringing another cold night. Winds will remain gentle, but the light breeze will offer little relief from the persistent cold. Around eight in the morning, the temperature is expected to be near seven degrees, before peaking at around fifteen in the early afternoon. Sunday will bring a slight improvement, with afternoon temperatures expected to climb to nineteen degrees. However, the morning will once again begin with temperatures close to freezing, prompting forecasters to advise residents to dress warmly and take appropriate precautions to stay comfortable and safe. Humidity is predicted to increase slightly as the day progresses, starting at around forty-five percent before rising to sixty percent by midday, contributing to the brisk winter feel. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ In Johannesburg, the cold will be even more intense. The city is expected to start Saturday morning at a freezing five degrees, with daytime highs struggling to reach beyond fourteen degrees. Despite the sunshine and lack of clouds, the dry air and low humidity will add to the harshness of the cold. Winds will remain steady throughout the day, but without enough strength to significantly alter the chill factor. Sunday in Johannesburg offers a similar weather pattern. A frosty morning low of four degrees will give way to a slightly warmer afternoon, reaching around sixteen degrees at its peak. The skies will remain clear throughout, but the unrelenting dry cold will continue to define the weekend's weather. Although Gauteng will not see any snowfall or rainfall during this period, the cold front's impact will be felt. The weather is part of a broader national trend, with colder-than-average winter conditions reported across several regions. The South African Weather Service continues to monitor the situation closely but assures that no disruptive weather events, such as heavy rain or strong winds, are expected during this period. Residents are advised to make use of heating devices safely, dress in warm layers, and prepare for frigid mornings and cool afternoons. The weekend offers ideal conditions for indoor activities or warm outings in the sun, but the cold will remain a dominant feature across the province.
