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Cape Town
Saturday, August 1, 2026

EARLY WINTER RAIN DRENCHES THE CAPE

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Early winter rain has fallen across most of the Western Cape including most regions in the drought disaster affected Karoo region.

The Gouritz River catchment area that covers the bulk of the Karoo region has seen an increase in average dam levels for the first time this year. That average level currently stands at 19.3%.

This includes dams like the Gamka dam in Beaufort West that currently is 9.4% full. It has been empty for more than two years. The dam’s catchment area got 13mm of rain over the past seven days.

The Cape Town Weather office says the Overberg region received over 100mm of rain over the weekend, with 145mm measured at the Tierhoek weather station.

 The rainfall is not without its challenges. This morning the N2 had to be closed between Caledon and Riviersonderend due to flooding.

There have been several other incidents of localised flooding in some areas across the province and this is expected to continue another day or two.

Look at this dramatic footage published on Twitter by Storm Report SA:

Liesl Smit
Liesl Smit
Liesl is the Smile 90.4FM News Manager. She has been at Smile since 2016, with nearly 20 years experience in the radio industry, including reading news, field reporting and producing. In 2008 she won the Vodacom Journalist of the Year Award, Western Cape region. liesl@smile904.fm

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