Most parts of country are currently experiencing windy and chilly conditions as a result of a cut- off low pressure system that is about to make landfall. This system also carries the potential for heavy rainfall, severe thunderstorms as well as strong to gale force winds in places.
A cut-off low pressure system has started developing south-west of the country today, resulting in isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers in the central and southern parts of the country. These include the Western Cape, Northern Cape, western parts of North-West, Free State as well the Eastern Cape Provinces. Some of these storms are expected to become severe in places tonight, with the potential for strong damaging winds as well as large hail.
Strong winds are also expected over most parts of the central interior, mainly in North-West and the Free State as well as the Cape provinces. This will result in fire danger conditions over the western parts of North-West, the eastern interior of the Northern Cape as well as the western and central parts of the Free State Province.
Along the coasts, strong south-easterly to easterly winds will reach a gale force (65-70 km/h) from Table Bay and all the way along the southern coastal belt up to Port Alfred.
As a result of these persisting windy conditions, seas will deteriorate substantially with high seas and wave heights in an excess of 6m can be expected already from this evening between Cape Point and Plettenberg Bay. Due to the easterly orientation of the waves, normally sheltered bays and beaches will be exposed to high waves and this will pose serious difficulties.
Tomorrow, Wednesday, 2 September 2020, the south-western parts of the country can expect heavy downpours with potential for flooding over the Cape Metropole areas, Overberg and in places over the Cape Winelands.
Otherwise, windy conditions are expected to persist in many places over the Cape provinces, the Free State and North-West Province. Gale force winds will also continue along most of the country’s coastal belt, before moderating later in the day.
The cut-off low system will finally exit the country during Thursday, resulting in overall clearance of weather conditions.
Figure 1: Total precipitation for Wednesday 02 September 2020. ©SAWS 2020
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) will continue to monitor any further developments relating to this weather system and will issue subsequent updates as required. Furthermore, the public are urged and encouraged to regularly follow the weather forecasts issued by SAWS on television and different radio stations.
Updated information in this regard will regularly be available at www.weathersa.co.za as well as via the SA Weather Service Twitter account @SAWeatherServic and on the Weather Smart App.
Compiled by: Mkhushulwa William Msimanga and Samkelisiwe Thwala
Edited by: Jacqueline Modika
For technical and weather enquiries:
National Forecasting Centre: Tel: 012 367 6041
Media enquiries: Ms Hannelee Doubell: Manager, Communications; Tel: (012) 367 6104; Cell: 072 222 6305; E-mail: hannelee.doubell@weathersa.co.za
