Generic image. Photo: Valentin Müller, Unsplash
GARDEN ROUTE DISTRICT NEWS - The Cape Town Weather Office has issued the following weather warnings:
1) Level 1 – Damaging winds
2) Level 3 – Disruptive rain
Period valid: 5 to 6 May 2021
Level 1 warning for damaging waves resulting in difficulty navigating at sea and small vessels at risk of capsizing between Lambert s Bay to Plettenberg Bay from Wednesday 5 May into Thursday 6 May.
Instruction
Be aware of large unpredictable waves along the coast. Small vessels are advised to seek shelter in harbours, bays or inlets. Be aware of strong rip currents, especially during spring tides.
Affected areas
Bergrivier, Bitou, Cape Agulhas, Cederberg, City of Cape Town, George, Hessequa, Knysna, Mossel Bay, Overstrand, Saldanha Bay, Swartland, Table Bay
Weather forecast, alerts and UVB index for all South African provinces, 15 March 2021
This forecast is designed to be a quick overview of what lies in store.
Weather data provided by the South African Weather Service. For a detailed forecast of your province, click here.
Severe Weather Alerts
IMPACT-BASED WARNINGS:
Yellow (level 1) warning for rain which could lead to localized flooding of roads and settlements over the coastal areas of the Overberg and Garden Route Districts in the Western Cape.
Yellow (level 1) warning for severe thunderstorms over the south-eastern parts of the Northern Cape, as well as over the interior of the Eastern Cape extending to the coast.
Valid from (SAST): 14/03/2021 22:00
Valid to (SAST): 15/03/2021 09:00
Discussion: Significant rain is expected to affect the coastal areas of the Overberg and Garden Route Districts tonight into tomorrow morning.The accumulated rainfall is likely to reach between 40 to 50mm over the period due to the strong southerly to south-easterly winds aided by an intense upper air system.
Impact: Localised flooding can be expected in susceptible formal and informal settlements and roads. Increased travel times and motor vehicle accidents due to pooling of water may occur along with difficult driving conditions on dirt roads.
Instruction: If possible stay indoors and off the roads, avoid crossing rivers and swollen streams where water is above your ankles. If trapped in a vehicle during a flood, abandon it and climb to higher ground. In buildings, move valuables to a safe place above the expected flood level. Take caution driving on a roads covered by water. Listen to the radio or TV f
Monday will be fine, warm and partly cloudy for most parts of the country, according to the South African Weather Service. Several weather alerts have, however, been issued.
Beaches a pillar of the tourism industry
In his founding affidavit, Great Brak River Business Forum chairperson Willem de Wet said Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma failed to provide substantiating reasons for her decision to close beaches, as well as the evidence it was based on.
The lockdown already had a devastating impact on the economy and limiting economic and tourism activity in the Garden Route would likely exacerbate this, De Wet argued. The tourism, travel and accommodation industry in the Garden Route is enormously dependent upon the peak tourist season, namely December festive season, each year to provide the financial boon that is required to sustain those businesses through the rest of the year, he said.