Cape Town shivers in the snow

Published Aug 30, 2013

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Cape Town - Snow blanketed Table Mountain as well as mountains of the Boland and the Helderberg, Jonkershoek and Villiersdorp ranges on Friday morning, according to reports.

Whiel social media was abuzz with report and pictures of snow in Cape Town, authorities are running relief centres in the rainy city where thousands of people have been affected by the weather.

“The bad and adverse weather that has hit the Western Cape has left more than 10 000 people in discomfort,” the city's disaster and risk management spokesman Wilfred Solomons-Johannes said on Friday.

The heavy rain and cold temperatures were predicted to continue into the weekend.

“The heavy downpour is exacerbated by cold and wet conditions... there is another low (pressure) frontal system expected to pass through tomorrow (Saturday).”

Solomons-Johannes said areas hardest hit by the adverse conditions were Philippi, Nyanga, Gugulethu, Khayelitsha, Lwandle, and Somerset West.

“The Cape Flats area is the most affected. We have been running a relief centre, handing out blankets and food.”

On Wednesday, a cold front set in, bringing very cold and wet conditions accompanied by gale-force north-westerly winds between Cape Point and Cape Agulhas.

Solomons-Johannes said rivers were expected to burst their banks because of the downpour and urged residents in close proximity to be cautious. - Sapa and IOL

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