Extreme weather for the Western Cape: Heavy rain & severe thunderstorms

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) warned the public about the possibility of extreme weather conditions in the Western Cape this weekend due to a cut-off low pressure system. Severe thunderstorms and heavy rainfall is expected on Sunday, 5 March.

By: Storm Simpson

What to Expect: Severe Weather Phenomena That Could Accompany the Cut-Off Low

The weather service said first, there could be scattered to widespread showers and thundershowers in the Western Cape on Saturday, 4 March.

“Subsequently, the trough will further steepen and intensify, ultimately becoming a cut-off low system during Sunday morning as it moves closer to the country,” said the weather service.

The heavy rain could bring localised flooding, and there could be severe thunderstorms. The SAWS said these are some of the potentially damaging weather phenomena that will most likely accompany the cut-off low.

“Well-developed, intense upper-air cut-off lows are notoriously efficient producers of a combination of heavy rain as well as severe thunderstorms, especially around the core as well as on the eastern flank of the system.”

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Rainfall Projections: How Much Rain Is Expected in Different Parts of the Western Cape?

The cut-off low will likely bring large amounts of hail, heavy downpours, damaging winds and lightning.

According to the numeric weather prediction (NWP), Sunday is projected to see 40 to 60 mm of rainfall in the southern parts of the Cape Winelands and Central Karoo districts. There could be 70 to 100mm of rain in the Overberg and Garden Route districts.

Accordingly, the weather service issued a Yellow Level 4 warning for thunderstorms in the Cape Winelands District, Laingsburg and Prince Albert municipalities and an Orange Level 6 warning for the Overberg and Garden Route districts on Sunday.

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