Western Cape Suffers Severe Damage from the Worst Storm on Record

The Western Cape was subjected to massive disruption over the weekend as the region was hit by what has been labeled as the 'most intense storm'. Flooding, landslides, rock slides, and power outages were widespread, with all major roads into Cape Town closed due to the severe damage inflicted. The extreme weather conditions resulted in substantial infrastructural damage, with electricity cuts and homes along with farmlands left flooded.

From Sunday through Monday, the rainfall persisted, leading to several rivers overflowing and wreaking havoc across Greater Cape Town, Overberg, Overstrand, and Winelands regions. As these downpours continued, provincial authorities and disaster management teams were engaged in emergency situations, only able to surmise the full extent of the damage once conditions improve.

Over the course of these catastrophic 24 hours, the Overberg region recorded up to 170mm of rain - a record-breaking figure. Similarly, Stellenbosch, a part of the Winelands district, received 133mm of rainfall, while the Royal Yacht Club in Cape Town recorded 92mm.

The Western Cape government, acting on the update from the SA Weather Service, activated the Provincial Disaster Management Centre. The weather service warned of the storm's severity, upgrading the threat level from a 6 to a fraught orange level 9, indicating potential for substantial disruption due to rain and gale-force winds.

Predicted damage to farms and vital agricultural operations within the Western Cape region will need comprehensive assessment over the coming weeks. Grain farmers in the area produce approximately half of South Africa's wheat crop and stand to face severe losses amidst approaching harvest season.