Storm unleashes black Friday on Western Cape
A storm turned Friday afternoon peak hour turned into a nightmare for Capetonians.
Provincial traffic chief Kenny Africa said heavy rain and strong winds, with gusts of up to 101km/h predicted, were causing havoc on roads.
He said a dust storm had been reported on the N2 between Caledon and Sir Lowry's Pass. Africa was on site between Heidelberg and Swellendam where the weather was the cause of a head-on collision between two vehicles.
“Two occupants were thrown out of the vehicles. A woman who was the occupant of a light motor vehicle died. She is currently behind the wheel,” he said.
Cape Town International Airport spokesperson Deidre Davids urged passengers to check their flights online to avoid confusion.
"There have been flights delayed. Both arrivals and departures are on a reduced schedule, with delays of up to 40 minutes due to the bad weather," she said.
Several incidents on the roads were reported by Twitter users. @HoutBayNews said two trees brought down by a storm were blocking the Disa river, creating a flood risk.
Rob Byrne of @TrafficSA posted photographs of a car wedged under the back of a bus in Sun Valley, Fish Hoek, and of a large branch blocking one side of Main Road, Hout Bay. He also reported that Chapman's Peak Drive, between Hout Bay and Noordhoek, had been closed due to high winds.
The @MountainSafety account said several trees had been uprooted in the Constantia Nek area.
A Facebook post reported roofs and road signs being destroyed in the Overberg and cars being blown off the N2.
The storm trended on Twitter
Please be safe out as the storm hits us..spare a thought for the homeless. . pic.twitter.com/LIr9CZRdfu
— Mountain Safety (@SafetyMountain) April 22, 2016
#CapeStorm Purple Rain clouds over Cape Town via @accuweather#RIPPrincepic.twitter.com/eaWf8JDTDa
— CapeTalk (@CapeTalk) April 22, 2016
Crazy times down here in Cape Town #capestorm literally took to the roof off of things
— Sue-Mari Sauer (@suekieza) April 22, 2016
While there'll be beautiful waterfalls later, best place to be is indoors & off the roads currently! #Capestormpic.twitter.com/SWfbHw533P
— VWS Wildfires (@vwsfires) April 22, 2016
Cape Town - #CapeSTORM: Sun Valley, car under a bus - increase follow distance on wet roads pic.twitter.com/6l0v2pAHiu
— Rob Byrne (@TrafficSA) April 22, 2016
Cape Town - #CapeSTORM Hout Bay Main Road, tree branch down pic.twitter.com/lBQZn2vy4P
— Rob Byrne (@TrafficSA) April 22, 2016
If you're in @capetown later today, BATTEN DOWN THE HATCHES!! #capestorm Be safe on the roads! pic.twitter.com/4mqgLOxLHn
— Jon Meinking (@ishotimagesza) April 22, 2016
The @SAWeatherServic warnings for tomorrow. Please take note - gale force winds, very heavy rains. @KFMza#CapeStormpic.twitter.com/UqDVsNOrJ7
— VWS Wildfires (@vwsfires) April 21, 2016