The South African Weather Service (SAWS) measured a monthly total of 507,0 mm at the Ceres Automatic Weather Station (AWS), for the month of May.
This follows excessive amounts of rainfall, between 10 and 12 May 2026, in the Western Cape.
During this period, the station recorded 69,4 mm on 10 May, an overwhelming 333,2 mm on 11 May and about 75,6 mm on 12 May.
Robin-Lee Batties, Client Liaison Officer, Western & Northern Cape at the SAWS, said this is a one-of-a-kind rainfall event, pointing to a 1:200 rain return (once every 200 years) or potentially a substantially rarer event requiring a detailed statistical analysis.
Rainfall in May alone, was more than six times the average monthly rainfall normally expected for this time of year.
The norm is at an estimated 80,4 mm.
“The rainfall total also exceeded the climatological monthly averages for the peak winter rainfall months, including June (245,2 mm), July (182,0 mm) and August (120,0 mm).”
While the substantial rainfall contributed positively to dam levels, groundwater recharge, river flows and agricultural water availability, the excessive rainfall over this short period led to adverse impacts on communities.
Affected communities are at Witzenberg, Breede Valley and Langeberg Municipalities, largely due to the Breede River catchment system originating in the Skurweberg Mountains near Ceres.
Picture: Supplied