The SAWS has warned of disruptive rain in Cape Town from Sunday night into Monday.
Gallo images/Gie Burger/Jaco Marais
- The weather warning for Cape Town is now at Orange Level 8 for disruptive rain from Sunday night into Monday.
- Residents are urged to heed the warnings.
- An Orange Level 5 warning was also issued for damaging winds.
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has escalated its weather warning for Cape Town to Orange Level 8 for disruptive rainfall expected from Sunday evening into Monday.
According to Disaster Risk Management spokesperson Charlotte Powell, the elevated warning signals a high likelihood of significant impacts, including flooding of roads, low-lying bridges, and both formal and informal settlements.
In addition, SAWS has issued an Orange Level 5 warning for damaging winds over the same period.
Powell said:
Residents are urged to heed the warnings and take the necessary precautions around their properties and when travelling.
Powell said the City’s Disaster Coordinating Team (DCT) would convene on Sunday morning to coordinate responses to the anticipated weather-related impacts across Cape Town.
On Friday, SAWS had warned of severe weather conditions expected from Sunday to Tuesday.
This included an Orange Level 6 warning for disruptive rainfall, leading to flooding of roads, low-lying bridges, and formal and informal settlements in Cape Town.
It also included the warning for damaging winds and waves, posing a danger to navigation at sea and potential damage to coastal infrastructure along the coast between Lambert’s Bay and Plettenberg Bay.
READ | Flooding fears for Cape Town, Cape Winelands and Overberg as intense cold front approaches
Powell said residents were urged to monitor official updates on social media and through trusted media platforms.
The SAWS uses an impact-based, colour-coded warning system to indicate the severity and likelihood of hazardous weather.
Yellow indicates a moderate risk of impact, which requires caution and awareness, while orange indicates that a higher-risk impact is expected, requiring increased attention and preparation.
The SAWS uses the numbers to indicate the likelihood of weather-based impacts occurring. Level 8 represents a severe impact but low likelihood.
