Severe weather in Cape Town has caused widespread chaos, with strong winds uprooting trees, disrupting traffic, and damaging infrastructure across the city.
Story Summary:
- Severe weather in Cape Town uproots trees, disrupts traffic, and damages infrastructure.
- Strong winds caused significant damage, including the collapse of the entrance structure at Access Park in Kenilworth.
- The South African Weather Service issued warnings for damaging winds and disruptive rain.
Cape Town severe weather events caught on camera
Residents across Cape Town witnessed firsthand the destructive power of the severe weather on Tuesday as strong winds and heavy rain swept through the city.
One of the most alarming incidents occurred at Access Park in Kenilworth, where the entrance structure was blown away, blocking traffic on the busy route.
Videos of the collapse quickly circulated on social media, showing the extent of the damage.
In Newlands, the force of the winds uprooted several large trees on Kelvin Road.
Meanwhile, a significant sinkhole opened up on Beach Road in Strand, causing major traffic delays and posing a serious hazard to motorists.
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) had issued an Orange Level 6 warning for damaging winds and a Level 2 warning for disruptive rain, which proved to be accurate as the cold front made landfall across the Western Cape.
The severe weather conditions were marked by rainfall accumulations of 10 to 20mm in the western parts of the province, with up to 50mm recorded in the mountainous areas of the Cape Winelands and the City of Cape Town.
Cape Town weather warnings latest updates
As the cold front continues to impact the region, the South African Weather Service has warned of strong northwesterly winds reaching speeds of 60 to 80km/h, with gusts of up to 100km/h along the coast.
High waves, ranging from 4m to 8m, are expected between Lambert’s Bay and Plettenberg Bay from Tuesday through Thursday.
Wind speeds could even escalate to between 90 and 120km/h in certain areas.
The Disaster Risk Management Centre is closely monitoring the situation. Charlotte Powell, spokesperson for Disaster Risk Management, noted that while no significant incidents have been reported to the Disaster Operations Centre, city services and humanitarian partners remain on standby to respond to any emergencies.
Powell urged the public to remain vigilant, particularly in low-lying areas that remain waterlogged from previous storms, and to exercise caution on the roads due to the risk of falling debris.
The severe weather is expected to ease off by Wednesday morning, but Capetonians are advised to stay alert and take necessary precautions during this period of adverse weather.
