The Western Cape disaster officials are closely monitoring the rain in the Garden Route and Little Karoo regions as a level 8 storm makes landfall.
Between 100 and 200 mm of rain is predicted for Wednesday, as well as gale-force winds and high sea swells.
Disaster officials are on standby for flash flooding, mudslides and rapidly rising rivers, particularly in low-lying areas.
For the past few days, municipal teams have been clearing stormwater drains, which could lead to flooding.
In the meantime, schools in George, Knysna and Oudtshoorn have been closed until Thursday.
Meanwhile, flooding incidents as well as power outages have been recorded at the Nelson Mandela Bay metro amid heavy rains in the Eastern Cape.
The metro has confirmed that several areas, including Markman, Blue Water Bay and Amsterdam areas, experienced power outages, but it has since been restored.
Other areas are, however, still without power. Flooding was also reported in some parts of the metro.
Safety and Security Executive Director at NMB, Shadrack Sibiya, says several roads have been closed due to flooding.
“There is only one road that has been closed, it’s Third Avenue. We closed it to avoid any fatalities or any incidents that may occur other roads are being monitored in case they need to be closed. We had some waves that would actually rise, hence we are monitoring closely… There has been a report of electricity in Blue Water Bay. We managed to restore electricity also in Summerstrand, there are electricity failures, but they are being attended to.”
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The South African Weather Service has cautioned Eastern Cape citizens to continue remaining on high alert and avoid travelling if necessary, as disruptive and inclement weather is likely to persist.
Residents of the Eastern and Western Cape are on tenterhooks this week following the South African Weather Service’s dissemination of two Orange Level 8 warnings for disruptive rain in parts of the two provinces. Warnings of lower levels have also been issued for other provinces. pic.twitter.com/jmI6IO7qGO
— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) May 5, 2026
Level eight warning of destructive rain has been issued for Wednesday.
Eastern Cape weather forecaster Ayabonga Tshungwana says disruptive rain leading to flooding of settlements, roads and low-lying areas is expected in areas of Koukamma and Kouga municipalities.
“In areas like Nelson Mandela Bay and Kou-Kamma, the South African Weather Service has issued a Level 8 warning. Also, some areas like Aberdeen in the Sarah Baartman District Municipality will have an Orange Level 6 warning. These precipitation events are accompanied by strong winds, so an Orange Level 6 warning has also been issued for wind and waves, which will be affecting the coastal areas.”
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