While Capetonians had to cope with cold and inclement weather in the city this weekend, the City of Cape Town’s Disaster Risk Management said it was pleased that they received no reports of significant incidents.
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) issued a Yellow Level 4 warning for damaging winds and waves on Thursday ahead of a powerful cold front which lashed the Western Cape from Friday evening into Saturday.
On Saturday, the City of Cape Town’s Disaster Risk Management spokesperson, Charlotte Powell said that they were pleased that the City’s Disaster Operation Centre had no reports of significant incidents related to the weather conditions.
On Sunday, the City said that there was no change in status and that relevant services remain on standby to respond if necessary.
SAWS forecaster, Joew Malebane, said that they have been liaising with their disaster management representatives, trying to gather observations and the impacts of damaging winds in areas where warnings were sent due to the previous cold front.
“While this system came with damaging winds and cold and rainy conditions, it is empirical to note that it was not particularly an intense front.
“As we know Western Cape, is in the winter rainfall season, therefore we are more likely to see more typical fronts and those with intensified nature as we transition into the winter season,” Malebane said.
“This coming week we will be experiencing calmer and fine weather from today onwards as a high pressure (system) will dominate the country, and possibly bring some warmer temperatures in places of Northern Cape and the Western Cape.
“The next significant cold front passage may be possibly seen in the next two weeks’ time; the forecast has potential of changing course and the system might weaken before approaching, so keep tabs open on our social media platforms and website for more weather warnings.”
Meanwhile, SANParks said on Friday it was still managing occasional flareups at Tokai and Silvermine and urged the public to keep off trails for their own safety.
“It would be premature to allow the public back at the trails whilst clearance of nails and pins is still underway. The area remains unstable under foot.
“We appeal to the public not to enter closed trails because it could be dangerous and result in trampling of emerging vegetation or disturbance of wildlife that has minimal areas of refuge while the vegetation cover regrows.
“At this stage it is impossible to predict when the closed areas will be opened,” they said.
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SANParks said that the SAWS rain forecast for this weekend “will necessitate another assessment as rains will inevitably destabilise slopes and cause localised rockfalls”.
The Cape Peninsula Civil Conservation provided an update for hikers on trails:
- Upper Tokai and surrounding trails—this includes all hiking, horse-riding, and mountain biking trails in Upper Tokai.
- Silvermine East and West —both Gate 1 (Dam) and Gate 2 (Waterfall)—are also closed, along with all trails leading to Silvermine.
- Echo Valley, Peak’s Valley, Ou Kraal, Old Boyes Drive, and the Kalk Bay trails are not accessible at this time.
