The figures – boosted by a storm surge – are jaw-dropping, and represent one of the biggest weekly increases in recent history for the Cape Town dam levels.
In what has been one of the most epic seven-day increases in recent years, the Cape Town dam levels have made the most of a storm surge currently battering the Mother City. The facilities have reported a near-10% increase in water levels over the past week, as a double-whammy of cold fronts lashed the region.
CAPE TOWN DAM LEVELS FOR MONDAY 13 JULY
The Cape Town dam levels are 9.33% better off than they were on Monday 6 July. The reservoirs keeping the wider Western Cape hydrated soared past the 53% mark, rising by almost 8% this week. Some of the best-performers include the Clanwilliam reserve, which almost doubled its volume from 29% to 52%. Theewaterskloof, meanwhile, is also up by 10% following the biblical downpours:
DAM LEVELS RECORD ‘INCREDIBLE’ RISES
Anton Bredell is the Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning in the Western Cape. He has implored locals to limit their movements around the province, as the storm surge continues to batter the south-west. Everything from gale-force winds to a ‘seafoam deluge‘ has been reported on Monday:
“While the storm is still ongoing, we urge the public to continue to limit movement around the province. This includes staying away from beaches and promenades and other waterways as much as possible. Conditions along the coastal areas are expected to see storm surges and wave heights of up to 12m in some areas.”
“Heavy Rain, localised flooding and damaging winds can continue to be expected during the course of the day as the storm moves across the province from West to East. Detailed damage assessments will be conducted when it is safe and the storm had passed.”
Anton Bredell
LATEST NEWS ON THE CAPE TOWN STORM SURGE ON MONDAY 13 JULY
Bredell also provided the following updates about the damage caused by this storm surge – which will continue to hammer the Cape Town Municipality and its provincial neighbours throughout the afternoon:
Cape Town: Reports of roofs blown off in Strand, Lavender Hill, Mandela Park, Khayelitsha, Steenberg and Heideveld. Trees in roadways in Constantia Nek, Rondebosch. Tree uprooted and fell on house in Tokai as well as on a car in Waterloo Street, Gardens.
Cape Winelands: The roof of a shop was blown off – fire services have removed the roof from the road. A tree was uprooted and fell against a house. Power outages due to a tree that fell on powerlines. Several power outages were reported in the Greater Worcester area. Flooding reported in the low-lying areas.
