The Perfect Storm?

It’s Spring Day tomorrow in South Africa. The unofficial start of the good weather that will last through until next July, allowing us to enjoy braais, beers by the pool and some dreadful home performances by the nation’s cricket team. But winter had one last throw of the dice and scored a lucky 7 with a particularly evil cold front which came through on Saturday afternoon. It was pretty nasty, as the SA Weather Service warned us:

Gale force westerly winds (35kt/65km/h) are expected in places over the Western Cape on Saturday. Strong-gale to storm strength winds (in excess of 80km/h) are expected along the Western Cape Coast. Very rough seas with destructive waves in excess of 7m, coinciding with spring high tides, are expected along the Western Cape coast. Heavy falls of rain are expected in places over the western parts of the Western Cape on Saturday. Very cold, wet and windy conditions are expected to set in over the western parts of the Western and Northern Cape Saturday evening. Snowfalls are expected over the western high ground of the Western Cape as well as the south-western high ground of the Northern Cape from Saturday evening into Sunday morning.

Lovely. Thanks for that.
I did pop out on Saturday afternoon, but after almost dying on a tree-lined stretch of road near our house when large chunks of the trees started lining the stretch of road around my car, I declined to go out again.
Until this morning, when a promise of decreasing wind, together with a hint of sunshine and a morbid curiosity to see what was left of Cape Town tempted us down to Mouille Point and Three Anchor Bay.

        

        
Stormy scenes at Mouille Point: see more at flickr (and videos too!)

The worrying thing was that these pictures were taken about 4 hours before high tide – and a spring tide at that. I’m due back in Sea Point on Tuesday and I will be very interested to see if it’s actually still there.

Want more pics? Click here.

 

13 thoughts on “The Perfect Storm?

  1. Odd, an Englishman talking about the weather?

    And they call PE the windy city, although yesterday I must admit it was pretty bad here as well.

    Pamela’s last blog post was: Help! (Note: 6000 miles… is not responsible for the content of external internet sites)

  2. Crazy storm, hey? I also popped out for a bit on Saturday and had to dodge all the debris and stuff. Then I got home and found a massive tree had blown over and landed in what was my garden. (Waiting for the municipality to come and hoist it out.)

    Still, I really feel sorry for people living in informal settlements. Imagine what storm must’ve been like for someone living in a shack! Got me counting my blessings!

    Nic’s last blog post was: Where are your jeanpants? (Note: 6000 miles… is not responsible for the content of external internet sites)

  3. Pamela » Everyone here is talking about the weather. I’d like to talk about the cricket.

    Emil » It was fun. Wet and cold, but fun.

    Hanlie » My advice? Stay home with a warm TV and a bottle of Merlot.

    Nic » Indeed. Even as the water came through my kitchen roof.

    Stan » Yeah – but the people are a little concerning.

  4. LOL…….I don’t think I’ve ever experienced a beautiful or sunny Spring day. Mother Nature always has something up her sleeve on or just before the 1st of September:)

    Ruby’s last blog post was: Dear Tamara (Note: 6000 miles… is not responsible for the content of external internet sites)

  5. What an awesome storm !
    Wish I was in C.T. and not the U.K. right now, as the surf must be PUMPING !!
    Anyone know of any Surf Cams or pics of the surf ?
    Enjoy it !

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