EC weather warning: Gale force winds, huge waves to lash coast
A level 4 weather warning has been issued as damaging winds and 9m-high waves will hit the Eastern Cape coastline.
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The South African Weather Service (SAWS) issued a yellow level 4 weather warning for winds and waves along the coastline of the Eastern Cape for 5 June.
Eastern Cape update: Weather warnings
- Kou-Kamma, Kouga, Nelson Mandela Bay and Ndlambe municipalities: A yellow level 2 warning has also been issued for wind which could result in localised damage to infrastructure and temporary structures, as well as dangerous driving conditions.
- Yellow level 2 warning for winds and waves resulting in localised disruption of some harbours for a period of time, as well as the risk of taking on water and capsizing of small/medium vessels in a locality, expected between Algoa Bay and Coffee Bay.
- Very rough seas with wave heights of 4m to 5.5m are expected between Cape Agulhas and East London, subsiding from the west from the mid-afternoon, but ending around midnight between East London and Port St Johns.
- A south-westerly gale force wind of 35 knots is expected to the east of Storms River until sunset.
- High seas with wave heights from 6m to 9m are expected to the east of Storms River until late afternoon.
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What to expect
- The powerful waves are anticipated to cause disturbances in small harbours and/or ports, posing a risk to medium-sized vessels by potentially dragging their anchors.
- Beachfront activities are likely to be disrupted in general.
- The coast may experience higher water levels, particularly during high tides, which could extend the reach of the waves onto the shoreline.
- The combination of rough sea conditions and gusts of gale to strong gale force winds will impede progress and create navigation challenges.
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