Freak Wave Hits Cape Coastal Towns: Gordon’s Bay Among Affected Areas

The unusual event took place during a spring high tide and posed a threat to vehicles at Bikini Beach.

By / / Cape Town Buzz / 2 minutes of reading
cape coastal Gordons bay freak wave

A freak wave occurred in several coastal towns in the Eastern and Western Cape, including Gordon’s Bay.

Were there any injuries in the Cape Coastal freak wave?

Fortunately, there have been no reports of injuries resulting from this incident.

The unusual event took place during a spring high tide and posed a threat to vehicles at Bikini Beach.

Thanks to the coordinated emergency response from several Western Cape law enforcement and rescue services, the unusual weather event claimed no lives.

However, authorities are cautioning the public to exercise vigilance around coastal areas, as well as rivers, lakes, and dams located inland, particularly during stormy conditions and strong winds this weekend.

Videos of the massive waves impacting stationary vehicles in various coastal towns, including Gordon’s Bay, Stilbaai, Mossel Bay, and Three Anchor Bay in Cape Town, circulated on social media platforms, drawing attention to the dramatic incident.

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Residents of Gordon’s Bay in the Western Cape have been advised to remain cautious during periods of high winds.

Western Cape weather: Was this another unusual landspout?

This event follows a prior weather-related incident in August 2023 when strong winds, generated by an EF-1 landspout, affected parts of Cape Town.

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) clarified that landspouts, while similar to tornadoes, are typically weaker and smaller in scale.

The landspout in August 2023 occurred near Morningstar Airfield, north of Cape Town, in the Cape Farms region, around 10:00. It subsequently moved eastward over the N7 main road, dissipating at the Olifantskop Farm. This weather phenomenon travelled approximately 4.39km before vanishing.

The adverse weather conditions resulted in three injuries and damage to multiple properties.

SAWS conducted a thorough analysis of the weather conditions and a field investigation, determining that the wind phenomenon affecting Cape Farms was indeed a landspout.

While these incidents are unusual, they serve as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of weather patterns in coastal areas and the importance of heeding safety warnings during adverse conditions.