South Africa: Adverse weather forecast over parts of Western Cape Province through July 27

Severe weather is forecast to continue across parts of Western Cape Province through at least July 27. As of early July 25, the South African Weather Service has issued the following severe weather warnings:

• Orange Level 5 (out of 10) disruptive rain warnings: Across Breede Valley, City of Cape Town, Drakenstein, Stellenbosch, and Witzenberg local municipalities.

• Yellow Level 4 disruptive rain warnings: Across most of the rest of the affected area.

Officials will likely amend forecasts and advisories over the coming hours and days. In recent weeks, strong winds and heavy rainfall have caused flooding, closures, damage, and disruptions across parts of the province. Further severe weather is likely to hamper recovery efforts.

Sustained heavy rainfall could trigger further flooding in low-lying communities near rivers, streams, and creeks. Urban flooding is also possible in developed areas with easily overwhelmed stormwater drainage systems. Sites located downstream from large reservoirs or rivers may be subject to flash flooding after relatively short periods of intense rainfall. Landslides are possible in hilly or mountainous areas, especially where heavy rain has saturated the soil. Strong winds could create conditions conducive to wildfire development and growth.

Authorities could issue mandatory evacuation orders for flood-prone communities over the coming days. Disruptions to electricity and telecommunications services are possible where significant flooding or landslides impact utility networks. Utility services could also be suspended or disrupted in areas with strong winds, particularly in elevated or mountainous locations.

Floodwaters and debris flows may render some bridges, rail networks, or roadways impassable, impacting overland travel in and around affected areas. Ponding on road surfaces could cause hazardous driving conditions on regional highways. Authorities could temporarily close some low-lying routes that become inundated by floodwaters.

Severe weather could also trigger flight delays and cancellations at regional airports. If strong winds trigger hazardous sea conditions, authorities may temporarily suspend port operations or close beach fronts along the east coast. Flooding could block regional rail lines; freight and passenger train delays and cancellations are possible in areas with heavy rainfall and potential track inundation.

Localized business disruptions may occur in low-lying areas; some businesses might not operate at full capacity because of flood damage to facilities, possible evacuations, and some employees' inability to reach work sites.