Spring is getting off to a chilly start in parts of the Western Cape, with the South African Weather Service (SAWS) warning of adverse weather across the Western and Northern Cape later this week. 

An intense cut-off low is forecast to affect the two provinces from Thursday into Friday, 3 to 4 September, bringing very cold, wet and windy conditions, disruptive rainfall and potentially damaging coastal and interior winds. 

A Yellow Level 4 warning for disruptive rainfall has been issued for the Overberg and Garden Route districts on Thursday. The rainfall could result in flooding of roads and settlements, as well as major disruption to traffic flow. 

A separate Yellow Level 4 warning for damaging winds is expected from Thursday afternoon into Friday across the Namakwa district in the Northern Cape, parts of the Cape Winelands and Central Karoo, and the Little Karoo municipalities. The strong winds could damage temporary structures and settlements, affect transport routes and travel services, and create a risk of injury from flying debris. 

Along the coast, a Yellow Level 4 warning for damaging winds and waves is in place between Alexander Bay and Plettenberg Bay from Thursday into Friday. Conditions could disrupt ports and harbours and create dangerous conditions for navigation at sea. 

SAWS has urged the public and small-stock farmers to prepare for the potentially disruptive conditions, with very cold temperatures, heavy rain, strong winds and damaging waves expected as the cut-off low moves across the region.