The City of Cape Town says all relevant services and emergency response partners are on standby as a cold front is expected to bring heavy rainfall, strong winds and rough sea conditions to parts of the Western Cape from Sunday, 28 June.
Disaster Risk Management spokesperson Sonica Lategan says the South African Weather Service has issued a Yellow Level 4 warning for disruptive rainfall, with a well-developed cold front expected to make landfall on Sunday.
According to the forecast, scattered to widespread showers and rain are expected over the western and south-western parts of the province before spreading eastwards during the evening and continuing into Monday.
Rainfall accumulations of between 15mm and 25mm are expected in many areas, while the Cape Winelands and City of Cape Town districts could receive between 30mm and 60mm of rain.
The weather service has also issued a Yellow Level 2 warning for damaging winds across parts of the Western Cape and southern Namakwa in the Northern Cape. The strong winds could create localised problems for high-sided vehicles on exposed routes.
A further Yellow Level 2 warning has been issued for damaging waves between Cape Columbine and Cape Agulhas from Sunday into Monday, which could make navigation at sea difficult.
Lategan says City departments and external partners are monitoring the situation closely and are prepared to respond to any weather-related incidents.
Residents are encouraged to take precautionary measures ahead of the arrival of the frontal system. These include clearing gutters and drains, checking roofs for leaks or loose sheeting, securing outdoor furniture and loose objects, and taking steps to reduce the risk of flooding around homes.
People living in informal settlements are advised to dig trenches to divert water away from their dwellings and, where possible, raise floor levels above ground level to minimise flood risks.
The City has urged residents to report non-emergency service-related issues through the Corporate Call Centre on 0860 103 089, the City’s website or mobile application.
For emergencies involving threats to life or property, residents should contact the Public Emergency Communication Centre on 021 480 7700.
