Cape Town – A combination of flooding due to heavy rain on Friday morning, leading to poor visibility, several vehicle accidents and traffic lights that are out of order worsened the peak-hour traffic.
Cape Town Traffic Service spokesperson Richard Coleman urged motorists to "take caution in this weather".
Rainy conditions are expected from Friday until Tuesday – with a break from the rain from Saturday afternoon until Sunday morning – due to a few cold fronts setting in over the Western Cape.
The most intense cold front made landfall early on Friday, with a short spell of intense rain expected.
The City’s Disaster Risk Management Centre said at noon it had received reports of roads being flooded in several areas.
Chapman's Peak Drive has been closed and a flood warning issued for informal settlements. The rain is expected to taper off during the course of the day.
"Due to last night’s heavy downpour, the following weather-related matters have been reported: a roof has been damaged by strong winds in Kirstenbosch; and roadways are flooded across the city in areas such as Grassy Park, Parow and Constantia.
[PICTURES] Flooding, traffic chaos in Cape Town as the heavens open https://t.co/26KFQVwAAS
— PACTonline - Bianca (@PACTonline) October 25, 2019
"At this stage, no storm-related electricity disruptions or uprooted trees have been reported to the Disaster Operations Centre.
"No flooding has yet been reported in informal settlements, however, Disaster Management Officials will continue to monitor high-risk areas."
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/RAIN?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RAIN #Flooding allow extra travel time pic.twitter.com/ocTNOPYWeO
— Rob Beezy (@TrafficSA)
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/1SecondTelegram?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#1SecondTelegram @BOSBEER2006 @EWNTraffic @IOL @netstartraffic @CapeTownFreeway @JulianaArruve pic.twitter.com/up5vdwz6UL
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The traffic lights on the corner of Rhodes Avenue and Main Road are out as well as those on the corner of Jan Smuts Drive and Turfhall Road in Lansdowne. The traffic department is attending to the problems.
Residents are asked to direct non-emergency service requests to the City’s Call Centre on 0860 103 089, and to direct emergency calls to the Public Emergency Communication Centre by dialing 021 480 7700 from a cellphone or 107 from a landline.
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/crash?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#crashTAXI overturned Symphony way bridge and N2.. Cape Town.. Expect delays services on scene.. @BOSBEER2006 @1SecondLater @ArriveAlive @EWNTraffic @capetraffic @BokRadio @SALTruckers #ArriveAlive pic.twitter.com/OxxPciP7cf
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