- The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a Level 8 warning for damaging winds along the coastline, with gusts exceeding 100 km/h.
- These hazardous conditions are creating dangerous seas, posing risks to swimmers, surfers, sailors, and the commercial maritime industry.
- Authorities urge the public to follow safety advisories and exercise caution, as rough seas and high tides could lead to structural damage and hazardous shoreline conditions.
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a stark warning about the perilous conditions currently gripping the coastline.
Recent weather patterns have stirred up unusually rough seas, creating a hazardous environment for swimmers, surfers, and sailors alike.
In light of these developments, the SAWS is urging residents and visitors to exercise extreme caution and adhere to all safety advisories. On Sunday the SAWS adjusted the Level 6 warning for damaging winds to Level 8.
On Monday, no damages had been reported.
“Please check for any loose items on your property that would need to be secured to prevent damage or potential injuries. This includes roofing sheets and/or loose roofing tiles, falling trees or branches and outside furniture,” the City of Cape Town urges.
Warning
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) also appealed to the public to follow SAWS’ forecast weather updates and adhere to SAWS weather warnings.
“It appears that rough sea conditions are forecast by SAWS to spread around the coastline and rough seas and gale-force winds are causing hazardous inshore sea conditions and hazardous shoreline conditions compounded by the spring tide in places. We are appealing to the commercial maritime industry that is at sea to wear life jackets during commercial operation,” says NSRI spokesperson, Craig Lambinon.
Sea conditions during this inclement weather are compounded by this cold front happening during the new moon Spring tide that peaked in the early hours of Saturday morning and that will extend into about the middle of the new week.
“We are appealing to extreme sports and sport fishing craft to preferably not launch in these current inclement weather conditions that are expected, by SAWS, to extend into Monday. Anglers and coastal hikers should be aware of the Spring high tide with hazardous shoreline conditions compounded by rough seas that may cut off coastline areas during the high tide. Inland waterways, rivers, lakes and dams are expected, in places, to flood and/or swell where heavy rainfall is forecast by SAWS,” Lambinon says.
He urged the public not to cross through flooded roadways or cross bridges over river ways that are submerged by swollen rivers.
NSRI, maritime authorities, the City, emergency services, the police and Disaster Risk Management remains on high alert.
