Another Cut-off low system is expected to make its way to at least 4 of South Africa’s 9 Provinces.

According to Samkelisiwe Thwala and Mkhushulwa Msimango, of the South African Weather Service (SAWS) forecasting center, a well-defined upper-air system (cut-off low) is expected to pass over the western parts of the country on Saturday, 26th October 2024.

This system is expected to move Eastwards and eventually exit the country, on Tuesday, 29th  October 2024.

As a result, strong winds of between 55 to 65 km/h are expected over the Cape provinces, but fresh to strong (30 to 50 km/h) over North West, Gauteng, the Free State and western parts of KwaZulu-Natal, are expected on Sunday until Monday. 

“This can result in damage to settlements (informal/formal), poor driving conditions that can affect transport routes (N1 and N3) and possible problems for high-sided vehicles affected by winds, falling trees and possible blowing sand and dust” according toThwala and Msimango.

Heavy downpours  exceeding 60 mm can be expected in the south-western parts of the country on Sunday, while it will advance along the south coast of the Western Cape and adjacent interior on Monday.

This can be coupled with flooding of roads and settlements, damage or loss of infrastructure, property, vehicles, livelihoods and livestock, with the possibility hail.

Along the coastal regions strong winds, coupled with very rough seas with wave heights of 4,0 to 5,0 m, can be expected to start on Saturday, until Monday.

Temperatures are expected to be warm to hot, however a significant drop in temperatures can be expected from the west on Sunday, where temperatures will be cold to cool.

As a result, SAWS has issued a Yellow Level 4 warning for Disruptive Rain, leading to flooding of roads and settlements as well as damage to infrastructure over the Cape Winelands, City of Cape Town, Overberg and southern parts of West Coast Districts of the Western Cape on Sunday into Monday.

A Yellow Level 3 warning, against damaging wind and waves, was issued for Lambert’s Bay and Plettenberg Bay for Sunday into Monday.

Yellow Level 2 warning against disruptive rain, over the southern Namakwa of the Northern Cape, northern parts of the West Coast, the western parts of the Central Karoo as well as over most parts of the Garden Route district of the Western Cape on Sunday into Monday.

Picture: Supplied

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