SOUTHERN CAPE NEWS - Extreme weather conditions are expected to affect a large part of the country, including the Southern Cape, on Friday and Saturday 7 and 8 September.
This extreme, wintery weather is likely to include rain and snowfall, accompanied by widespread, bitterly cold conditions.
The main areas in the Garden Route affected by the orange, level 5 rain warning are Mossel Bay, George, Knysna and Bitou. A yellow level 3 rain warning is in place for Hessequa Municipality.
The South African Weather Service has warned that heavy rain over parts of the Western and Eastern Cape may cause flash floods, particularly along the southern and south-eastern coast and adjacent interior. The weather system responsible for these extreme conditions is an upper air cut-off low pressure system which will be moving across the southern half of the country in the days ahead. Secondary development, in the lee of this system, is expected to result in more widespread and persistent extreme weather than would otherwise have been the case.
Provinces most likely to be affected are Western and Eastern Cape and to a lesser extent Northern Cape. The highveld region of the Free State, North-west, Gauteng and Mpumalanga as well as parts of KwaZulu-Natal may experience isolated storms.
The weather system will begin exiting the country on Sunday, when clear skies will return. Daytime temperatures will however remain fairly chilly for a few days thereafter.
The Garden Route Disaster Management Centre in collaboration with the South African Weather Service will be monitoring the progress of the storm, and have asked that all municipalities ready themselves for severe conditions and that local authorities be on stand-by to provide aid and perform rescue operations in case of damage or floods. Farmers are advised to keep livestock sheltered from the cold, rain and snow. To report any severe weather-related incidents contact the Garden Route Disaster Management Centre at 044 805 5071. For regular weather updates go to www.weathersa.co.za .
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