We’ve all felt it. The hard gusts of wind that sweep throughout the city, marring our summer. The strong gusts of the so-called Cape Doctor have been blowing non-stop for at least a week, with a brief respite expected only on Sunday.
The relentless wind makes simple tasks like walking, wearing summer clothes and talking outdoors very difficult. Even driving in certain areas becomes terrifying, as the wind pushes against your car. Perhaps the worst quality of the wind however, is its role in spreading fires, man of which have devastated the Cape Peninsula. Just this week, we watched as fire fighters dealt with the Devil’s Peak Fire. So it’s no wonder people are complaining about the wind.
Even Capetonians, who know all about the wind, are tired of it. No matter how much we wish it would stop blowing, the wind is not going anywhere. In fact it is going to be around for the rest of the summer, albeit not as strong as it has been of late. January and February are traditionally windy months, with things seeming to die down a bit in March, just in time for the rain and cold when winter sets in around May.
But rather that look at the negatives, here are the positives of Cape Town’s current wind situation. There is a reason the wind is dubbed the Cape Doctor. It actually keeps the city healthy, by blowing all the smog and pollution away, and making the air cleaner for us to breathe. On days when there is no wind, you also feel how incredibly hot it gets in Cape Town. The wind also acts like a natural fan, helping us cope (especially in the CBD).
The Cape Doctor is also responsible for the famous table cloth on Table Mountain, making for wonderful photo-ops and showing the world why our mountain is one of the New7Natural Wonders of the World.
And if nothing else, the wind provides us with a good laugh. Like in this 2012 video of people struggling to stay upright near the Cape Town Civic Centre:
biltonghippie Definitely! Avoid the Civic Centre at all costs.
CapeTownEtc The only problem is that if you stay high up you can’t open your windows, hence it’s even hotter. Cape Doctor killing me!
ILoveFoodiesCT Ouch! We feel your pain…
It’s called the Cape Doctor because it blows all the bugs away
Would be nice to have one or two days of no wind!! :):)
I will never complain about the wind. It blows away our pollution and it always rains up country when we have wind. Let’s be thankful for it.
Sunday should be lovely.
Oh gosh, really?! U0001f629
CapeTownEtc News doing the rounds is that starting your tweets with “News doing the rounds” is kinda redundant
they were warned that if they took the Rhodes statue down wind and drought would follow
damiendutoit You’d be surprised.
Yup, as true as BOB….Not that crazy oukie from Zimbabwe!
Summer is the Cape Doctor.
……WE’D better get used to it….
I wish the cape doctor would visit Johannesburg!!!
Love the comments here 🙂 this is CT..imagine how hot it would be without the wind? We would all be dying!!
Has been blowing solidly for tao weeks seems like forever keeps us cool but a break would be great
Thanks for the update….better get used to the wind.
Had enough of this wind now man
Ek het vanjaar nog nie eers ‘n vlieg gesien nie – hulle waai weg, kan nie in hierdie wind vlieg nie.
I also hate the wind. BUT, as long as it is howling, the areas up north is getting rain and we will hopefully have food.
Just like last summer…
When the wind blows in CPT it rains in the north. Bless it as it will save those farmers with cattle and crop dying in the north.
Seems like you left just in time, Leon Jody Rodrigues. Don’t blow away, now, Justin Groep!
Give it some broolets…get his wind out..
Take up kite surfing..
and the last……windgatte hier onder….lol
Sarah Atmore is this the answer to your question?
We left just in time Lynn Joe
Keeps us cool in this horrible heat
I do hope you are right Marian Pike that would be marvellous. Let it blow!
Yikes… I had enough of that windU0001f32a
Yes how long does it last
Ek voel so iesegrimmig oor die wind wat nie bedaar nie.MAAR ek moet vasbyt want ons het gebid vir reën in die binneland en ons gebede is verhoor!Dankie Heer! AMEN.
Fabulous!! It means rain for us up here U0001f61cU0001f44dU0001f44d
Welcome to Cape Town ???✌
Well they say it means rain for us upcountry … Yay!
well, then, let it blow!! gale force!!
In maart minder, he U0001f61cU0001f64c
Jaa gelukkig wel haha anders waaien we weg
I can remember as a child hanging on for dear life to a pole while waiting for the lights to change in Darling Street. Strongest wind I have ever experienced. Great that it brings rain inland.
Yes, but not the one I was hoping for…
What about rain
Thanks for up date
Cape Doctor will send the rain to the farmers who need it !!!!!!!
Till end of Feb, I’m afraid.
Should have some rain from around April.
Yes perhaps but at least it keeps the Vaalies off the beaches.
Worse news ever but some areas need the rain, we will just continue taking head ache pills!
Noooo….. so no going to the beach for me then 🙁
Well thank you doctor for all the rain upcountry!!!!!
Cape town now the new windy city.
Good, means more rain for Joburg!
Thinking of the ashmatics that can’t handel this wind
yoh….i have met up with this
the wind that is
En “Van Hings” het sy pyp gerook!
Oh my goodness no hair style days coming up.
Neeee man ek was da n=g ni op Di Kaapse strande Di jaar ni not ayoba
why is it called the cape doctor ?
As irritating as the wind is, the bottom line is that when it stops we FRY.
Rather have the wind with the blasted heat to cool us all down imagine no wind we would burn up haha
U0001f615 nobody owns the beaches – we all just immigrants from one place or another – good income tourist trade for the Cape U0001f60a
It blows all the pollution away from the city!
Quite frankly, I’ve had enough!
Well its frying today… with no wind in sightU0001f608
No you don’t , Come to the garden Route! We get rain as well
Lovely. Good and clean and fresh air straight from the Indian ocean.
Seems it stopped
Van Hunks is smoking his pipe!
This wind is almost unbearable, spoils all outdoor activities.
I love it! Without the wind it will be so hot and humid! Remember.
Hoesit ou maat …
Omw wind till the end of Feb……rain only in April…..u must be joking!!!!!!!
Good! It means rain in the drought stricken areas
Julle moet nie oor die wind kla nie. As die wind gaan le sal ons verstik in die hitte. So waai wind waaaaai
Have just checked Paternoster – a gentle 18kph – all week. Sigh.
Summer in cape town ALWAYS has south easter wind..that’s just the way it is
Wai alie kak tranvaal toe
You gotta be born there reckons Dave.
At least it is sending rain here. Keep pumping South Easter!
Luv the wind…but misses a good sunny day at the beach
Love it, better than the heat wave.
I luv C T wind en to c de funny hair styles
South Easter needs to blow strong to bring rain to the Kalahari. Bring it on!
That’s interesting – wondering why…?…sounds good…this must be he worst year for wind since I have been in Cape Town …over 15 years ….
Van Donck will be blowing his pipe for a few more days those u remember van Donck
Pleeeease………..get a f…ing life.
Danilo Paranhos Feliz Ano Novo…olha esse lugar, Geógrafo !!
At least we’ll always have clean air U0001f601U0001f601U0001f601U0001f44dU0001f44dU0001f44d
Love the wind, it clears the air of pollution and cools things down!
Peter Stevens Why don’t you? You give other Capetonians like us a bad name. They help with our economy here in tourist seasons.