Wet weather continues on Tuesday, but less damaging winds

Severe weather has battered the Western Cape over the past few days, with flooding, strong winds and widespread disruption reported across Cape Town and surrounding regions. The two cold fronts over the region were preceded by devastating flood damage over the Garden Route and its surrounds last week.

Emergency teams are responding to infrastructure damage, power outages and road incidents, while assessments in informal settlements have confirmed 1,655 dwellings affected, impacting over 5,600 people thus far. That total is set to increase. Multiple roads were flooded, and roofs were blown off buildings.

At least three fatalities have been reported in the Western Cape on Monday, 11 May, amid hazardous conditions. Several other lives have been lost elsewhere in the country over the past few days.

Authorities remain on high alert as relief efforts and damage assessments continue. All schools in the province will be closed tomorrow, 12 May.

11 May, 21h00: Weather conditions across the Western Cape are expected to ease slightly on Tuesday, 12 May, with a gradual improvement in conditions as the storm system weakens.

While rain will remain widespread, winds are forecast to be lighter overall compared to previous days, reducing some of the damaging impacts seen during the peak of the frontal system.

Most coastal and Cape Town areas, including the City, Cape Flats, Stellenbosch and surrounding Winelands, will continue to experience rain showers with temperatures between 14°C and 18°C. Although showers may still be heavy at times, wind speeds are expected to ease to moderate levels, offering some relief for recovery and clean-up operations.

Inland areas such as Ceres, Worcester, Grabouw and Paarl will remain wet, but with less intense wind conditions and more intermittent rainfall. Similar trends are expected along the West Coast, including Atlantis, Malmesbury and Clanwilliam, where rain showers persist but with calmer wind conditions.

In the Overberg and southern coastal regions, including Hermanus, Swellendam and Cape Agulhas, rain will continue, though strong gusts are expected to ease significantly compared to earlier in the week. Interior regions such as Beaufort West and Prince Albert are expected to see lighter rainfall and generally calmer conditions overall.

While Tuesday still brings wet weather across much of the province, the reduction in wind intensity marks a gradual easing of the system, providing improved conditions for ongoing recovery and response efforts.

Tuesday 12 May, 09h00: The City of Cape Town says flooding has now been reported in at least 26 informal settlements across the metro, with more than 10,700 structures affected by the severe weather.

Disaster Risk Management spokesperson Charlotte Powell says an estimated 41,000 people have been impacted.

READ MORE HERE.

Meanwhile, motorists are cautioned to drive carefully as several roadways are flooded this morning due to the persistent downpours.

11 May, 18h30: President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed sadness over the deaths of at least 10 people linked to severe weather affecting several provinces across South Africa.

In a statement on Monday evening, the President said government authorities at the national, provincial and municipal levels would continue working with communities following the declaration of a national state of disaster.

The declaration follows widespread flooding, infrastructure damage, service disruptions and community displacement caused by heavy rain, strong winds, thunderstorms and snowfall.

Ramaphosa thanked rescue and recovery teams, as well as civil society organisations and businesses assisting affected communities, noting that operations are being carried out under difficult weather conditions.

He said the government would continue monitoring forecasts and adapting its response as conditions evolve.

11 May, 18h30: The Cape Winelands District Municipality says its Joint Operations Centre has been activated and disaster management teams remain on high alert as severe weather continues to impact the district.

Authorities say evacuations have taken place in several areas due to rising rivers, with some residents sheltered in community halls while others are staying with family and friends.

In Stellenbosch, around 100 people were evacuated from the Three Streams area. Homes, businesses and public infrastructure have also suffered damage, including roofs blown off buildings such as the Mountain View Library in the Langeberg area.

Flooding and mudslides have forced the closure of major routes, including parts of the N1, the Huguenot Tunnel routes, Bain’s Kloof and several low-lying bridges. Officials say dams are being closely monitored, particularly a dam near Wellington that is threatening to overflow.

Mobile clinics have been suspended, some clinics closed, and widespread power outages are affecting communication in several towns. Residents are being urged to stay indoors, avoid unnecessary travel and not attempt to cross flooded areas.

11 May, 18h15: The City of Cape Town says mop-up and emergency response operations are continuing across the metro as disruptive rain and damaging winds persist.

Disaster Risk Management Centre spokesperson Charlotte Powell says some repair work and service reinstatements are being delayed due to dangerous wind conditions, making it unsafe for teams to operate in certain areas.

Assessments in affected informal settlements are ongoing, while humanitarian partners have been activated to provide immediate relief where assessments have been completed.

The City says the impact of the frontal systems has been extensive and has thanked residents for their patience.

Officials are urging the public to report service faults via the City’s call centre or app, and to reserve emergency lines for life-threatening incidents only.

11 May, 17h50: The City of Cape Town says severe weather conditions are causing major delays in restoring electricity outages across the metro, with more than 600 service requests currently outstanding.

Officials say heavy rain, flooding and strong winds are making repair work dangerous, particularly overhead operations involving aerial platforms. Priority is being given to incidents involving downed or live power lines.

The City says teams are responding as quickly as conditions allow and has apologised for the inconvenience. Residents in Eskom-supplied areas are urged to report faults directly to Eskom.

Newlands Cricket Ground was underwater earlier today.

Big storm in Cape Town.
Newlands Cricket grounds today. pic.twitter.com/6sX6XnUZaU
— FarmerMike™ 👨‍🌾 (@mikeratcliffe) May 11, 2026

11 May, 17h20: Police in George have opened an inquest docket following the death of a 63-year-old woman after a tree reportedly fell on her in Blanco on Monday morning.

According to police spokesperson Warrant Officer Christopher Spies, officers were called to a premises in Montagu Street at around 10:55, where the woman, an employee at the business, had gone to park her vehicle when the incident occurred.

She sustained multiple injuries and was declared dead at the scene by medical personnel.

11 May, 16h45: Due to severe weather conditions in the Western Cape, motorists are advised that the N1 Huguenot Tunnel has been closed, while Du Toitskloof Lodge Road is also closed in both directions following a mudslide.

Road users travelling on the N1 are urged to make use of the alternative route via the R43 and Nuwekloof Pass between Gouda and Tulbagh. Please expect delays and allow for additional travel time.

Motorists are to drive with extreme caution in these wet and hazardous conditions. Reduce speed, increase following distances, keep headlights on, and never attempt to cross flooded roadways.

Provincial traffic officers and emergency services remain on high alert.

11 May, 16h45: The City of Cape Town’s Urban Waste Management Directorate says refuse collection services are being delayed due to heavy rain, flooding and strong winds affecting access, operations and staffing across the metro.

Some transfer and disposal facilities have also been disrupted, including temporary crane shutdowns and reduced-capacity drop-off sites, with at least one site closed.

Residents are asked to keep bins out daily until collected, with most delays expected to be no longer than two days.

If refuse is still not collected after three days, it should be reported to the City’s Call Centre. Contingency measures are in place, with teams working over weekends if needed to clear backlogs.

11 May, 16h00: City of Cape Town teams are on the ground clearing debris from fallen trees and removing storm-related obstructions across affected areas as part of ongoing mopping-up operations.

Roads, public spaces and critical infrastructure are being prioritised to ensure safety and restore normality as quickly as possible.

All essential services remain operational with teams continuing to respond to incidents.
We urge residents to remain cautious around fallen trees, flooded areas and damaged infrastructure and to give teams space to work safely.

11 May, 15h00: The City’s Disaster Risk Management Centre says assessments are underway in informal settlements affected by the adverse weather.

So far, teams have completed assessments in six areas, confirming that 1,655 dwellings sustained impacts, affecting just over 5,600 persons.

A breakdown by area:

• Qandu Qandu, Khayelitsha – 1 000 structures/4 000 persons
• Overcome Heights – 300 structures/500 persons
• Vygieskraal – 150 structures/600 persons
• Island informal settlement, Khayelitsha – 100 structures/400 persons
• Kampies, Philippi – 60 structures/100 persons
• Riemvasmaak – 45 structures/80 persons

Spokesperson Charlotte Powell says they have activated their humanitarian relief partners to provide warm meals and blankets to those affected.

Completed assessments will also be forwarded to SASSA and the National Department of Human Settlements.

The Disaster Risk Management Centre is, in the interim, liaising with other relevant City Services to see what relief can be provided to residents.

“It is also important to note that assessments are continuing in many other areas, and this total will be updated as assessments are completed.”

11 May, 14h00: Western Cape Education MEC David Maynier has announced that all schools in the province will be closed on Tuesday, 12 May, due to severe weather conditions.

The decision follows consultations with the Provincial Disaster Management Centre and the South African Weather Service, amid warnings of heavy rain and strong winds.

The closure includes all public, ordinary and special schools. More than 220 schools had already applied for closure by Monday afternoon, while some schools have also reported storm damage.

Schools are expected to reopen on Wednesday, depending on conditions.

11 May, 13h50: The South African Weather Service says there is no evidence that a tornado swept through parts of Cape Town this morning, despite reports circulating on social media following storm damage in areas including Wynberg.

The Cape Town Weather Office says current weather conditions are not favourable for tornado development, and such events cannot be forecast.

Forecasters say the damage, including roofs blown off buildings, was most likely caused by the severe winds currently battering the Peninsula.

The weather office adds that strong winds moving over the Peninsula mountains can sometimes create brief swirling wind patterns, known as rotors, which may resemble a tornado, but are not sustained or classified as one.

11 May, 13h30: The City of Cape Town says electricity teams are responding to a high number of outages and storm-related faults across the metro as severe weather continues.

Officials warn that strong winds, heavy rain and flooding are damaging electricity infrastructure and may result in longer-than-usual outages.

The City says repair work can only be carried out when conditions are safe for crews.

Residents are being urged to keep phones and backup power devices charged, and to report electricity faults using only one official reporting channel to avoid duplicate service requests.

Affected areas include, but are not limited to:

• Gugulethu
• Parkwood
• Langa
• Weltevreden Valley
• Hanover Park
• Philippi
• Brooklyn
• Bergvliet
• Rondeboscch
• Glenlilly
• Vasco Estate
• Observatory
• Sybrand Park
• Pinelands
• Plumstead
• Wetton
• Bonteheuwel
• Pinati Estate
• Ottery
• Kenilworth
• Wetton
• Grassy Park
• Lotus River
• Claremont
• Portlands
• Retreat
• Soneike
• Kenridge
• Strand
• De Kuilen
• Durbanville
• Valmary Park
• Vredekloof
• Ravensmead
• Helena Heights
• Bo Kaap

Residents in Eskom-supply areas are encouraged to contact Eskom directly regarding their electricity faults.

Electricity services and damage: (please only log on one channel):

Call Centre: 0860 103 089
SMS: 31220 (Free SMS service doesn’t apply)
WhatsApp: 060 018 1505

11 May, status of road incidents as at 13h15:

11 May, 13h15: Some domestic and international flights at Cape Town International Airport are experiencing delays due to severe weather conditions affecting the Western Cape.

Passengers are advised to check directly with their airlines or flight status platforms for the latest updates before travelling to the airport.

11 May, 13h00: The City of Cape Town says all emergency and disaster response teams remain on high alert as severe weather continues to impact the metro.

More than 950 calls were received by the Public Emergency Communication Centre between 6 am and 9:30 this morning, with downed trees, vehicle accidents and power outages among the main incidents reported.

The City has activated its Disaster Operations Centre in Goodwood, bringing together multiple departments and emergency role players to coordinate the response.

Firefighters, law enforcement and traffic officials are assisting with road closures, clearing fallen trees and responding to emergencies across the city.

Residents are urged to stay indoors where possible and report emergencies to 021 480 7700.

11 May, 13h00: The Western Cape Government has urged residents to remain on high alert as severe weather continues to batter large parts of the province.

Authorities say falling trees, flooding and widespread electricity outages have been reported across the Cape Winelands, Overberg, West Coast and Cape Town, while at least nine trucks were blown over on the N2 in the Overberg.

The Provincial Disaster Management Centre says three fatalities have been reported, although it has not yet confirmed whether they are storm-related.

Schools are being monitored for possible closures, while health services have activated contingency plans in flood-affected areas. Residents are being urged to avoid unnecessary travel, flooded rivers and areas with unstable trees or debris.

11 May, 12h45: Theewaterskloof Municipality says disaster management and emergency teams remain busy with clean-up operations across the region following severe weather and strong winds.

Multiple roofs, informal structures and trees have been blown over, while widespread power outages continue in towns including Caledon, Grabouw, Botrivier, Villiersdorp, Greyton and Genadendal due to Eskom faults and storm damage.

Authorities say several municipal services have been disrupted, including refuse collection, libraries and testing centres, while Caledon Hospital is also experiencing electricity problems and roof damage.

Motorists are urged to remain cautious, with traffic officials attending to fallen trees, debris and an overturned vehicle near Theewaterskloof Dam. Emergency shelters have been opened in Bereaville and Greyton for affected residents.

11 May, 12h30: More reports are coming through of severe infrastructure damage to schools.

The Western Cape Education Department says it will issue a statement later, once they have collated all the reports coming from schools.

This video is of Beaumont Primary School in Somerset West:

Weather update 11 May, 12h30: Several severe weather warnings remain in place across the Western Cape as heavy rain, gale-force winds and dangerous sea conditions continue to batter the province.

An Orange Level 8 warning for disruptive rainfall is currently still in place for Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Drakenstein, parts of the Overberg, Breede Valley and Witzenberg for today into Tuesday. Forecasters warn of significant flooding of roads, bridges and settlements, mudslides and a danger to life from fast-flowing rivers.

An Orange Level 6 warning remains in effect for damaging coastal winds and waves between Lambert’s Bay and Plettenberg Bay, with hazardous conditions at sea and possible damage to coastal infrastructure expected through Tuesday.

Meanwhile, strong interior winds could cause falling trees, power outages and damage to homes across Cape Town, the Cape Winelands, Overberg, Garden Route and parts of the Northern Cape. Authorities are urging residents to avoid unnecessary travel and remain alert for rapidly changing conditions.

Latest update from the City’s Disaster Risk Management Department, 11 May, 12h00:

Flooding has been reported in the following informal settlements – Island, Makhaza and Monwabisi in Khayelitsha, Imizamo Yethu, Nomzamo, Lwandle, Phola Park, Gugulethu, Valhalla Park, Vygieskraal, Tafelsig, Delft and Kampies.

Hot meals and blankets are being distributed in these areas by the City’s humanitarian partners.

In formal areas, flooding has been reported at a day care in Mitchells Plain and the corner of Mercury and Galaxy Roads in Rocklands.

Damage to roofs has been reported in Grindal Avenue in Lavender Hill, Gugulethu, Crossroads, Marcus Garvie in Philippi, Portlands, Delft, Garden Road in Wynberg.

The Vygieskraal Canal in Belgravia has reached its capacity and is overflowing.

Among the flooded roadways that have been reported this morning include Rosmead Avenue in Wynberg, numerous roads in Mitchells Plain and Dido Valley Road in the Deep South. Rockfalls have been reported on Chapman’s Peak and Ou Kaapse Weg, in the direction of Tokai.

There have been reports of uprooted trees in areas across the metropole, from the M3 to Somerset West. In some instances, this has also affected power lines and the electricity supply.

There have been at least two instances of trees falling onto motor vehicles – one person died after a tree fell onto the vehicle they were in, in Kenilworth. In the second incident, a motorist was injured when a tree fell on their vehicle in Parow.

The prevailing weather conditions are set to be in place until tomorrow, as per the SA Weather Service.

Spokesperson Charlotte Powell says due to the conditions and the risk to the safety of staff members, some services are unable to conduct reinstatements/repairs and assessments currently.

“We also expect further impacts as the day progresses and will endeavour to provide timeous updates in this regard.”

11 May, 11h49: A woman has died after a tree fell onto a vehicle in Tennant Road in Kenilworth during severe weather in Cape Town this morning.

Local councillor Mikhail Manuel says emergency services, SAPS, Law Enforcement and City Parks teams responded quickly to the scene.

The woman who passed away was the passenger. The driver escaped without injuries but was taken to the hospital for precautionary checks.

Tennant Road between Oak Avenue and Toleni Road remains closed while police investigate and city teams work to clear debris. Authorities have urged the public to avoid the area.

Meanwhile, police in Pinelands are investigating a case of culpable homicide following a fatal accident on Jan Smuts Drive this morning.

An unidentified man sustained serious head injuries and was declared dead at the scene by emergency medical personnel.

Police say the circumstances surrounding the crash are still under investigation, and no arrests have been made.

EDIT: We have removed the reference to the nature of the Pinelands crash, as community reports have not been confirmed by officials.

11 May, 11h42: The City of Cape Town says operations at several Driving Licence Testing Centres have been disrupted today due to a combination of severe weather and network issues.

At the Gallows Hill centre, testing was delayed earlier after a tree fell in the testing yard.

The City’s Kevin Jacobs says affected centres will contact candidates directly if scheduled tests need to be rescheduled.

11 May, 10h15: City teams are currently clearing blocked stormwater drains, attending to fallen roofs and fallen trees across the metro after strong winds.

Blocked drains can lead to localised flooding, especially during periods of heavy rain. The City says teams are working to ensure water can flow freely and to reduce the risk of further disruption.

Residents are reminded that City services are available to assist:
📞 Report emergencies to 021 480 7700 or via the City’s App
📱 Log service requests via the City’s App or call 0860 103 089

A second cold front has now made landfall over Cape Town, with the City’s Disaster Operations Centre closely monitoring conditions across the metro.

Since last night, reports have included: Roofs blown off in Mitchells Plain and Hanover Park, localised flooding in informal settlements, flooded roads and blocked drains, electricity outages, and fallen trees.

Reports are coming in of several Cape Town schools sustaining damage. The WCED said it would issue communications later today that will include information on damage to schools.

This is after the decision on Sunday afternoon to only close schools in the Cape Winelands District today.

More weather-related incidents are being reported this morning as conditions continue to deteriorate across parts of the metropole.

Assessments are ongoing in affected communities. Motorists and residents are urged to use extreme caution, especially on flooded roads or near fallen trees and power lines.

Report emergencies to the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre: 021 480 7700