Cape Town’s average dam levels have increased yet again as the city enters the cooler winter months, and are markedly higher when compared to a year ago, when Day Zero still looked like a real possibility for the Cape. This time last year, dam levels in the Mother City measured 23.4%. This week, the levels stand at 46.7%.
This is also a 1% increase from last week, when dam levels showed a 45.7% reading.
Dams supplying the Western Cape as a whole now have an average of 33.6% water capacity. According to Anton Bredell, Western Cape MEC for Environmental Affairs and Development, the province receives the bulk of its rainfall during the winter months.
“This seems to be on the cards again and we may be in for a wet few months ahead. The South African Weather Service has just today issued an alert for Tuesday stating that heavy rain can be expected over large parts of the province. The Weather Service alert also warns that localised flooding can be expected in some areas including the Cape Metropole,” he said to IOL.
“However I also want to keep reminding people to continue using water responsibly. We need to carry on saving water to ensure our system, including our dams, recover during the wetter months; and after the prolonged drought that is still affecting some areas of the province.”
Tuesday will start off with a splash as forecasts suggest tomorrow may bring rain to the Mother City.
Locals can expect a chilly Tuesday with highs of 17°C and lows of 14°C with a 90% chance of precipitation throughout the day.
Currently, Wednesday has a 20% chance of turning into a rainy day as well, with highs of 15°C and lows of 10°C.
Picture: Pixabay