Update:
The City of Cape Town Traffic Service is urging motorists to be cautious and to allow for extra travelling time following several flooding reports:
- In the right and centre lane on the N2 outbound before Liesbeeck Park Way – both lanes are closed
- Strand Street in and outbound between Nelson Mandela and Buitenkant
- On 35th Avenue, northbound after Lavis Drive – left lane is flooded.
Picture: Ryan Porter / Unsplash
With the cold front deepening its grip across the country, the South African Weather Service (SAWS) has advised the Disaster Risk Management Centre (DRMC) of two weather warnings for tomorrow.
Also read: Heavy rainfall hits Cape Agulhas: Road closures and flood alerts
The weather warnings are as follows:
- Yellow level 4 warning for disruptive rain resulting in localised flooding of roads and susceptible settlements is expected over the southern parts of the West Coast, western parts of the Cape Winelands, City of Cape Town and western parts of the Overberg districts.
- Yellow level 2 warning for damaging winds leading to difficulty in navigation at sea of small vessels and personal watercraft is expected from Cape Aghulas to Plettenberg Bay.
According to the DRMC, all relevant City departments have been alerted to be on standby in the event of any weather-related impacts brought on by the forecasts.
The management centre also advised residents to help reduce risks to their properties by:
- Clearing out drainage systems
- Raising the floor level of a structure so that it is higher than the natural ground level
- Raise furniture on bricks to clear from the floor to limit water damage
- Make sandbags
- Dig trenches around the house to divert water away from the house
- Report blocked drains, intakes and illegal dumping (illegal dumping in the stormwater canals and sewers makes flooding worse)
- Waterproof roofs, clear gutters and remove dead tree branches
For emergencies, residents can contact the Public Emergency Communication Centre on 107 from a landline or 021 480 7700 from a cell phone.
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Picture: Anna Atkins / Unsplash