Cape Town - More cold weather is on its way for residents of the Western and Northern Cape as an intense cold front is expected to hit late on Sunday, the South African Weather Service (SAWS) has warned.
The new cold front brings with it the possibility of light snow over the southern high ground in the Northern Cape and the western mountains of the Western Cape on Monday and Tuesday.
"The public and small stock farmers are advised that gale-force winds, heavy rain leading to flooding, very cold conditions as well as very rough seas can be expected. Heavy rain leading to flooding is expected over the Cape Metropole, Western Cape Winelands and western Overberg in the Western Cape on Monday," the weather service said.
"Gale to strong gale force north-westerly to westerly winds (65-90km/h) are expected between Cape Columbine and Cape Agulhas Sunday night spreading to Plettenberg Bay, as well as over the central and eastern interior of the Western Cape as well as over the Cape Metropole, Overstrand and Cape Agulhas municipalities on Monday.
The City of Cape Town has also warned of an increased risk of flooding, particularly as some parts of the metropole are still mopping up after heavy rains on Thursday and Friday caused serious damage in a number of informal settlements.
"Informal settlements affected due to heavy rainfall were Masiphumulele, Lwazi Park Gugulethu, New Rest Gugulethu, Kanana, Fisantekraal, Klipheuwel, Blikkiesdorp, Delft and Marikana," said Charlotte Powell of the City's disaster management division.
Homes built next to the Dieprivier in the Zwelitsha informal settlement in Dunoon were flooded after heavy rainfall. Picture: Henk Kruger/African News Agency (ANA)
"Zwelitsha informal settlement in Dunoon has been flooded completely as residents built their dwellings in a floodplain. Disaster Management has appealed to residents to move their structures out of the floodplain. No engineering assistance from Transport will assist this community as a floodplain is a natural watercourse. Emergency sheltering has been activated at churches in the area," Powell said.
Across the city, power lines went down, roads were flooded, roofs were blown off homes and trees were uprooted, in at least one instance causing nearby roads to be temporarily closed.