The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has upgraded its warning from level 5 to an orange Level 8, for the Garden Route.
Disruptive rains are expected over Mossel Bay and Plettenberg Bay in the Western Cape on Wednesday into Thursday.
An Orange Level 5 is forecast for the adjacent interior between Plettenberg Bay and East London in the Western and Eastern Cape on Wednesday into Thursday.
Similar yet lesser conditions at level 4, are forecast over the Central Karoo and the western parts of the Garden Route Districts and the Swellendam Municipality.
The southern parts of the Eastern Cape are expecting rains at level 2.
About 16 roads are still closed in the Garden Route, following last month’s heavy rains in the area.
Levels of water in at least seven dams is around 100% full, including Wolwedans, Koos Raubenheimer, Haarlem, Duivenhoks, Calitzdorp and Tierkloof.
The Garden Route Dam, the main supplier of George is at 90.1%, while Hessequa’s Korentepoort Dam is at 60.7%.
Knysna’s Akkerkloof Dam is at a low of 18.9%.
Lehlohonolo Thobela, of the National Forecasting Centre of SAWS, said this weather is driven a Cut-Off Low (COL) pressure system, associated with a ridging surface high-pressure system.
This weather system is expected to result in widespread cold, wet, and windy conditions across the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and adjacent interior regions.
He advised members of the public to avoid unnecessary travel during periods of heavy rain and flooding and never to attempt to cross flooded roads, bridges, or swollen rivers.
Picture: Supplied