The public have been warned to take precautions against 8m-high storm sea surges, gales, rain, snow and floods predicted to crash into the province overnight reaching full blast from 8am.
“Disruptive” snowfalls are expected after noon on mountain passes in the Graaff-Reinet, Cradock, Hogsback, Queenstown, Elliot and Barkly East areas as well as other mountain areas,” said SA Weather Service (Saws) spokesman Garth Sampson yesterday.
Rain of 22mm is predicted to fall from 8am today until 8pm tomorrow.
Windguru.com predicted that at 5pm a south westerly gale, 6.8m waves, a spring high tide and 10.4mm of rain will reach a potentially calamitous alignment.
Sampson said: “High seas in excess of eight metres with storm surges are expected along the entire coastline today coinciding with a spring high tide this afternoon resulting in storm surge and the possibility of associated destructive coastal waves.”
Sampson said yesterday’s warm north-westerly gales buffeting Graaff-Reinet and Middelburg in the afternoon and reaching Queenstown and Butterworth overnight were a prelude to a “cut-off low” (cold front) approaching the province bringing gale-force south westerly winds and showers overnight along the coast from Port Alfred to Port St Johns, and strong winds in the interior.
“Showers can be expected over the province with snowfall and very cold conditions expected over most of the mountain ranges.”
Showers along the coast are predicted for tomorrow.
Snow falling on the Winterberg and Southern Drakensberg areas, especially the Barkly East and Elliot region, would clear from tomorrow afternoon, “but it will remain very cold”.
“Localised flooding is possible along the garden route and between Cannon Rocks and East London.”
Sampson said it would start clearing partially on Friday in the west.
Windguru predicts a calm weekend, with clouds on Saturday and sun coming out on Sunday.
Seasoned surf forecaster and journalist Nick Pike warned sailors, surfers, paddlers, anglers, lifeguards and other ocean users.
“A violent cold front is forecast to hit East London today with gales of 79km/h gusting up to 93km/h predicted by Windguru.
“A full moon has just passed and the winter Solstice on June 21 will all contribute to waves of up to 6.8m.”
He seemed to think the storm swell and gale would not peak at the same time as the high tide.
The gale drops to 42km/h tomorrow and it will be almost windless (6km/h) by 7pm. — mikel@dispatch.co.za
Province braces as major storm approaches
“Disruptive” snowfalls are expected after noon on mountain passes in the Graaff-Reinet, Cradock, Hogsback, Queenstown, Elliot and Barkly East areas as well as other mountain areas,” said SA Weather Service (Saws) spokesman Garth Sampson yesterday.
Rain of 22mm is predicted to fall from 8am today until 8pm tomorrow.
Windguru.com predicted that at 5pm a south westerly gale, 6.8m waves, a spring high tide and 10.4mm of rain will reach a potentially calamitous alignment.
Sampson said: “High seas in excess of eight metres with storm surges are expected along the entire coastline today coinciding with a spring high tide this afternoon resulting in storm surge and the possibility of associated destructive coastal waves.”
Sampson said yesterday’s warm north-westerly gales buffeting Graaff-Reinet and Middelburg in the afternoon and reaching Queenstown and Butterworth overnight were a prelude to a “cut-off low” (cold front) approaching the province bringing gale-force south westerly winds and showers overnight along the coast from Port Alfred to Port St Johns, and strong winds in the interior.
“Showers can be expected over the province with snowfall and very cold conditions expected over most of the mountain ranges.”
Showers along the coast are predicted for tomorrow.
Snow falling on the Winterberg and Southern Drakensberg areas, especially the Barkly East and Elliot region, would clear from tomorrow afternoon, “but it will remain very cold”.
“Localised flooding is possible along the garden route and between Cannon Rocks and East London.”
Sampson said it would start clearing partially on Friday in the west.
Windguru predicts a calm weekend, with clouds on Saturday and sun coming out on Sunday.
Seasoned surf forecaster and journalist Nick Pike warned sailors, surfers, paddlers, anglers, lifeguards and other ocean users.
“A violent cold front is forecast to hit East London today with gales of 79km/h gusting up to 93km/h predicted by Windguru.
“A full moon has just passed and the winter Solstice on June 21 will all contribute to waves of up to 6.8m.”
He seemed to think the storm swell and gale would not peak at the same time as the high tide.
The gale drops to 42km/h tomorrow and it will be almost windless (6km/h) by 7pm. — mikel@dispatch.co.za
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