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Severe Weather Alert

The Cape Town Weather Office has issued the following severe weather alert.  WARNING: damaging winds over the interior of the Garden Route District Municipality for later today.

HAZARD: Damaging winds
ALERT LEVEL: Warning
VALID FROM (SAST): 07/08/19 – 10h00
VALID TO (SAST): 07/08/19 – 20h00

WARNING:  A strong W/NW’ly gale force wind (70-80km/h) is expected between Cape Point and Cape Agulhas this afternoon (Wednesday), subsiding by evening.

ADVISORY: Strong north-westerly to westerly winds (50-60km/h) are expected over the Breede River Valley, Central Karoo, and the interior regions of the Garden Route District of the Western Cape today (Wednesday).

Description: Strong damaging winds
Strong damaging winds often occur along coastal regions, but also often occur during thunderstorm activity. These winds are sudden and can cause much damage.

Precautions:  Strong damaging winds
Stay indoors where possible away from the windows that open towards the severe winds. Be aware of the following: – sudden cross winds if traveling especially between buildings, fallen trees or power lines and flying debris.
Small boats must stay away from the open sea and seek the shelter of a harbour, river estuary or protected bay.
Parked aircraft should be pointed into the direction of the wind and secured. Listen to the radio or TV for warnings and obey the instructions from disaster management officers.

Description: Dangerous veld/bush fire conditions

Whenever there are prolonged periods of little and no rain coupled with warm dry winds, veldt or bush fires can easily be sparked and will spread rapidly in strong winds.

Don’t make fires in the open and/or leave fires unattended. Don’t throw cigarette butts out of cars or in the open veldt. Don’t throw bottles in the veldt as they can magnify the sun’s rays and start fires. Prepare and maintain fire breaks in controlled manner. In the case of a large fire report it immediately and move away from the area to let the professionals deal with it. Never throw water onto a fire started by an electrical fault or fires started by oil or paraffin lamps. In this case sand or a blanket should be used to smother the fire. Listen to the radio or TV for warnings and obey the instructions from disaster management officers.

Report any related incidents to the Garden Route DM Disaster Management Centre at Tel: 044-805 5071.