Cape Town in for wet spell
http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/w...asTVdhmODk
May 31 2013 at 10:13am
By Alison Decker
Cape Town - Cape Town is in for its heaviest downpour of the year so far on Saturday - with warnings that a well-developed cold front will also bring with it “strong, damaging” winds, high seas and snow in some parts.
The Cape Town Weather Office has issued warnings that the cold front will reach the city by Saturday afternoon, continuing on Sunday and Monday. The mercury is set to hover in the mid-teens for the next few days.
Heavy rain is expected in greater Cape Town, the West Coast, Cape Winelands and Overberg districts on Sunday and Monday. Cape Town can expect above 50mm rain from on Saturday evening, UCT’s Climate Systems Analysis Group forecasts.
Residents will have to hold on to their hats as well. Strong and gale-force winds are expected all over the Cape on Sunday, with stronger winds around Cape Columbine and Plettenberg Bay.
Surfers and boaters should expect very rough seas, with wave heights from four to six metres expected from Alexander Bay to Plettenberg Bay from Sunday through Tuesday.
The NSRI urged boaters, fishermen, paddlers, and surfers to heed all weather warnings and be well prepared for the stormy weather over the coming days.
Snowfall was expected on the western areas of the Western Cape and southern high ground of the Northern Cape on Sunday evening and Monday.
Richard Bosman, the city’s executive director for safety and security, said the city would be operating according to its winter readiness plan.
There will be teams on standby to monitor flooded areas across the city. The disaster management centre will be operating around the clock.
The city announced this week it was allocating nearly R170 million to clear drains in high-risk flood areas, as well as other maintenance.
Nine high-risk areas have been identified, including informal settlements in Fisantekraal, Philippi, Gugulethu and Strand.
* Report flooding, blocked drains and service disruptions to the city’s customer contact centre at 086 0103 089. For all life- and property- threatening situations call 107 or 021 480 7700.
![[Image: 4288043808.jpg]]()
Brace for icy, rainy weather, Cape told
June 1 2013 at 11:21am
By WEEKEND ARGUS REPORTER
Cape Town - For the second consecutive weekend Capetonians have been warned to brace themselves for heavy rain, icy temperatures and gale-force winds as a well-developed cold front arrives in the Mother City.
The Cape Town Weather Office said the cold front was expected to hit the city on Saturday, with significant rainfal continuing into on Sunday and Monday.
A 100 percent chance of continuous slight or moderate rain has been predicted over Cape Town, Strand and Kommetjie, all of which can expect heavier rain on Saturday afternoon.
Forecasts are for about 50mm of rain in the city before on Saturday night.
Temperatures stay low too, at between 12ºC and 16ºC in most areas, with strong and gale-force winds predicted for the city centre and Cape Point.
Heavy rain is also expected over the West Coast, Cape Winelands and Overberg districts.
High seas, with waves as high as 9m, are expected from Alexander Bay to Plettenberg Bay, continuing until Tuesday.
The NSRI has urged boaters, fishermen, paddlers and surfers to heed all weather warnings.
There will be a 30 percent chance of rain in Cape Town on Tuesday morning.
Richard Bosman, the city’s executive director for safety and security, said the authorities would be operating in terms of their winter readiness plan. Teams would be on standby to monitor flooded areas, and the disaster management centre would be operating around the clock.
Nine high-risk areas had been identified, including informal settlements in Fisantekraal, Philippi, Gugulethu and Strand.
The city announced this week it was allocating nearly R170 million to clear drains in high-risk flood areas, as well as to other maintenance.
* Report flooding, blocked drains and service disruptions to the city’s customer care contact centre at 086 010 3089. For all life- and property-threatening situations, call 107 or 021 480 7700.
![[Image: 680192083.jpg]]()
Heavy rain brings misery for W Cape
June 2 2013 at 09:31am
By SIBONGAKONKE MAMA
Cape Town - More than 1 000 residents were affected on Saturday by the first of the heavy winter rains as Capetonians stayed indoors in the face of severe weather warnings.
The city’s Disaster Risk Management Centre reported that it had helped 327 households and 1 286 people on Saturday in Philippi, Bishop Lavis and Strand. Spokesperson Wilfred Solomons-Johannes said they handed out 1 780 blankets and 1 280 meals.
“Other areas still to be assessed are New Village, Soli’s Town, Pholile, Maskhane, Ethembeni, Happy Rest, Wag ’n Bietjie, Lotus IFS, and WB, Y and BM sections in Khayelitsha,” he said late Saturday.
When Weekend Argus visited Philippi on Saturday, residents were struggling to get in and out of their homes as rainwater flooded pathways right up to their doorsteps, and inside their homes.
Residents baling water out of their homes said that they had been under water since yesterday morning. The authorities had yet to arrive to help.
In Lizo Sonamzi’s home, water was still seeping in through the front door.
“We’ve been filling buckets and buckets of water since this morning,” he said.
“We try to minimise the damage by pouring sand around our homes, but even that doesn’t work.
“Our children are always sick because they basically live in water, and this water is not clean so it causes other illnesses.”
Another resident,
Thandazwa Mrubata, had to stand on a crate in her spaza shop to keep dry.
“What you’re seeing now is still nothing. At least now most of the water is only in the shop section of my home. It comes in from all sides of the house, through the roof and the ground,” she said.
She said a makeshift step she had built outside her house helped to keep out the water.
“Usually I can’t even use a crate and I can’t even sell from the shop. I really don’t know what we are going to do because this is just the beginning,” Mrubata said.
Siyanda Dlepu was in a rainsuit and gumboots, still trying to sweep the water out, when the Weekend Argus visited his home, .
His cupboards were drenched in water and he was trying to raise them using planks.
“This is no way for a person to live, to be living in water.
“I have buckets all over the house because the water comes in from all over,” he said.
Community leader Lindikhaya Galeni said he had asked the city for assistance even before winter started, but had yet to receive a response.
Galeni said the rain added further financial pressure too, as people were forced to spend money on wet-weather gear just to live in their own homes.
Meanwhile, the South African Weather Service warned on Friday that heavy rainfalls were expected into Sunday, with flood warnings for the Cape metro, West Coast, Cape Winelands and the Overberg.
There were also warnings for gale-forces winds expected in the province on Sunday, with very rough seas expected from Alexander Bay to Plettenberg Bay between Sunday and Tuesday.
Disruptive snowfalls were also predicted in areas of the Northern Cape on Sunday.
Late on Saturday Solomons-Johannes said the supporting disaster response agencies were on high alert, and that the city had taken precautions for “extraordinary emergency procedures”.
“Emergency supplies for distribution of blankets, hot meals, sand and other specialised resources are stock-piled to deal with the impact of severe weather conditions forecast,” Solomons-Johannes said
“Additional staff are on duty at all contact centres to field complaints, reports and emergency calls from members of the public,” he said, adding that engineering teams were also conducting regular inspections of underground infrastructure.
Solomons-Johannes appealed to people to be careful.
“Slow down and maintain safe following distances on all roadways, as visibility may be impaired.
“Keep a watchful eye on open flames and extinguish them before going to bed.
“Boaters, fishermen, paddlers, surfers and anglers are to take heed of weather warnings, and always check official weather forecasts before going out,” he said. - Sunday Argus
![[Image: 2279309421.jpg]]()
http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/w...asTVdhmODk
May 31 2013 at 10:13am
By Alison Decker
Cape Town - Cape Town is in for its heaviest downpour of the year so far on Saturday - with warnings that a well-developed cold front will also bring with it “strong, damaging” winds, high seas and snow in some parts.
The Cape Town Weather Office has issued warnings that the cold front will reach the city by Saturday afternoon, continuing on Sunday and Monday. The mercury is set to hover in the mid-teens for the next few days.
Heavy rain is expected in greater Cape Town, the West Coast, Cape Winelands and Overberg districts on Sunday and Monday. Cape Town can expect above 50mm rain from on Saturday evening, UCT’s Climate Systems Analysis Group forecasts.
Residents will have to hold on to their hats as well. Strong and gale-force winds are expected all over the Cape on Sunday, with stronger winds around Cape Columbine and Plettenberg Bay.
Surfers and boaters should expect very rough seas, with wave heights from four to six metres expected from Alexander Bay to Plettenberg Bay from Sunday through Tuesday.
The NSRI urged boaters, fishermen, paddlers, and surfers to heed all weather warnings and be well prepared for the stormy weather over the coming days.
Snowfall was expected on the western areas of the Western Cape and southern high ground of the Northern Cape on Sunday evening and Monday.
Richard Bosman, the city’s executive director for safety and security, said the city would be operating according to its winter readiness plan.
There will be teams on standby to monitor flooded areas across the city. The disaster management centre will be operating around the clock.
The city announced this week it was allocating nearly R170 million to clear drains in high-risk flood areas, as well as other maintenance.
Nine high-risk areas have been identified, including informal settlements in Fisantekraal, Philippi, Gugulethu and Strand.
* Report flooding, blocked drains and service disruptions to the city’s customer contact centre at 086 0103 089. For all life- and property- threatening situations call 107 or 021 480 7700.
![[Image: 4288043808.jpg]](http://www.iol.co.za/polopoly_fs/cape-weather-1.1525072!/image/4288043808.jpg_gen/derivatives/box_300/4288043808.jpg)
Brace for icy, rainy weather, Cape told
June 1 2013 at 11:21am
By WEEKEND ARGUS REPORTER
Cape Town - For the second consecutive weekend Capetonians have been warned to brace themselves for heavy rain, icy temperatures and gale-force winds as a well-developed cold front arrives in the Mother City.
The Cape Town Weather Office said the cold front was expected to hit the city on Saturday, with significant rainfal continuing into on Sunday and Monday.
A 100 percent chance of continuous slight or moderate rain has been predicted over Cape Town, Strand and Kommetjie, all of which can expect heavier rain on Saturday afternoon.
Forecasts are for about 50mm of rain in the city before on Saturday night.
Temperatures stay low too, at between 12ºC and 16ºC in most areas, with strong and gale-force winds predicted for the city centre and Cape Point.
Heavy rain is also expected over the West Coast, Cape Winelands and Overberg districts.
High seas, with waves as high as 9m, are expected from Alexander Bay to Plettenberg Bay, continuing until Tuesday.
The NSRI has urged boaters, fishermen, paddlers and surfers to heed all weather warnings.
There will be a 30 percent chance of rain in Cape Town on Tuesday morning.
Richard Bosman, the city’s executive director for safety and security, said the authorities would be operating in terms of their winter readiness plan. Teams would be on standby to monitor flooded areas, and the disaster management centre would be operating around the clock.
Nine high-risk areas had been identified, including informal settlements in Fisantekraal, Philippi, Gugulethu and Strand.
The city announced this week it was allocating nearly R170 million to clear drains in high-risk flood areas, as well as to other maintenance.
* Report flooding, blocked drains and service disruptions to the city’s customer care contact centre at 086 010 3089. For all life- and property-threatening situations, call 107 or 021 480 7700.
![[Image: 680192083.jpg]](http://www.iol.co.za/polopoly_fs/cape-storms-1.1501438!/image/680192083.jpg_gen/derivatives/box_300/680192083.jpg)
Heavy rain brings misery for W Cape
June 2 2013 at 09:31am
By SIBONGAKONKE MAMA
Cape Town - More than 1 000 residents were affected on Saturday by the first of the heavy winter rains as Capetonians stayed indoors in the face of severe weather warnings.
The city’s Disaster Risk Management Centre reported that it had helped 327 households and 1 286 people on Saturday in Philippi, Bishop Lavis and Strand. Spokesperson Wilfred Solomons-Johannes said they handed out 1 780 blankets and 1 280 meals.
“Other areas still to be assessed are New Village, Soli’s Town, Pholile, Maskhane, Ethembeni, Happy Rest, Wag ’n Bietjie, Lotus IFS, and WB, Y and BM sections in Khayelitsha,” he said late Saturday.
When Weekend Argus visited Philippi on Saturday, residents were struggling to get in and out of their homes as rainwater flooded pathways right up to their doorsteps, and inside their homes.
Residents baling water out of their homes said that they had been under water since yesterday morning. The authorities had yet to arrive to help.
In Lizo Sonamzi’s home, water was still seeping in through the front door.
“We’ve been filling buckets and buckets of water since this morning,” he said.
“We try to minimise the damage by pouring sand around our homes, but even that doesn’t work.
“Our children are always sick because they basically live in water, and this water is not clean so it causes other illnesses.”
Another resident,
Thandazwa Mrubata, had to stand on a crate in her spaza shop to keep dry.
“What you’re seeing now is still nothing. At least now most of the water is only in the shop section of my home. It comes in from all sides of the house, through the roof and the ground,” she said.
She said a makeshift step she had built outside her house helped to keep out the water.
“Usually I can’t even use a crate and I can’t even sell from the shop. I really don’t know what we are going to do because this is just the beginning,” Mrubata said.
Siyanda Dlepu was in a rainsuit and gumboots, still trying to sweep the water out, when the Weekend Argus visited his home, .
His cupboards were drenched in water and he was trying to raise them using planks.
“This is no way for a person to live, to be living in water.
“I have buckets all over the house because the water comes in from all over,” he said.
Community leader Lindikhaya Galeni said he had asked the city for assistance even before winter started, but had yet to receive a response.
Galeni said the rain added further financial pressure too, as people were forced to spend money on wet-weather gear just to live in their own homes.
Meanwhile, the South African Weather Service warned on Friday that heavy rainfalls were expected into Sunday, with flood warnings for the Cape metro, West Coast, Cape Winelands and the Overberg.
There were also warnings for gale-forces winds expected in the province on Sunday, with very rough seas expected from Alexander Bay to Plettenberg Bay between Sunday and Tuesday.
Disruptive snowfalls were also predicted in areas of the Northern Cape on Sunday.
Late on Saturday Solomons-Johannes said the supporting disaster response agencies were on high alert, and that the city had taken precautions for “extraordinary emergency procedures”.
“Emergency supplies for distribution of blankets, hot meals, sand and other specialised resources are stock-piled to deal with the impact of severe weather conditions forecast,” Solomons-Johannes said
“Additional staff are on duty at all contact centres to field complaints, reports and emergency calls from members of the public,” he said, adding that engineering teams were also conducting regular inspections of underground infrastructure.
Solomons-Johannes appealed to people to be careful.
“Slow down and maintain safe following distances on all roadways, as visibility may be impaired.
“Keep a watchful eye on open flames and extinguish them before going to bed.
“Boaters, fishermen, paddlers, surfers and anglers are to take heed of weather warnings, and always check official weather forecasts before going out,” he said. - Sunday Argus
![[Image: 2279309421.jpg]](http://www.iol.co.za/polopoly_fs/iol-nws-june-2-cw-philippi-flooding-nnb0464-1.1525716!/image/2279309421.jpg_gen/derivatives/box_300/2279309421.jpg)