The first signs of impending wet weather conditions have been witnessed in Cape Town.
Mountain roads closed due to harsh winds
For the most part, the Mother City has been shaded by overcast skies on Tuesday, after weeks of sunshine. Pre-empting the wet weather that will likely fall over most parts of the Western Cape from Wednesday, harsh winds travelling at a maximum speed of more than 90km/hr were reported.
As a precautionary measure, high altitude roads that run along the city’s mountainscape were closed off to traffic, a safety measure taken to avoid accidents.
#CapeStorm Chapman’s Peak Drive: ROAD CLOSED due to high winds
— Rob Beezy (@TrafficSA) March 9, 2021
Cape Town weather forecast for Wednesday, 10 March 2021
Motorists and commuters have been warned to make alternative travel arrangements from Wednesday, as harsh rains are expected to fall over the coastal region.
We took a closer look at Wednesday’s weather forecast for Cape Town and according to Ventusky, this is what the picture looks like:
Temperature
Conditions are expected to tether between 18-20°c for Wednesday, with the temperature rising to its maximum at around 17:00.
Wind gusts and speed
The Cape winds are expected to drop considerably on Wednesday compared to what’s been witnessed on Tuesday, with the maximum gusts reaching 53km/hr in the afternoon.
Precipitation
There is a 100% chance of rain in Cape Town, for Wednesday, with a thunderstorm expected to rage off the coast of Saldanha Bay.
Expect high precipitation levels falling as deep as 4.1mm in the afternoon. The thunderstorm will make its way past Cape Town city centre in the evening, bringing along with it precipitation levels as high as 8.5mm.
The torrential weather will travel in a south-westerly direction and eventually clear the way for a dry Thursday in some parts of the Western Cape.
Motorists and commuters are warned to avoid travelling until the storm passes.