This is what I love about Cape Town and why I think surfers should be part of the environmental agency impact team from now on. All week they’ve been getting very excited about the storms about to hit Cape Town. 16-18m swell, 70km/h North Easterly winds (or was it South Westerly .. not sure) and high spring-tide, which all makes for some pretty awesome and hectic waves to throw themselves off and into in the coming days.

It’s Tuesday afternoon and finally I get an email from the official Environmental people about the impending storm action about to take place. Thing is, you only have to look out of the window and see the tin roofs flapping in the gale force winds and horizontal rain to know it’s already here. For those of you who don’t live in Cape Town, here’s what we are officially looking forward too in the next few days … whoo hoo .. time to get the camera out and pray the roof doesn’t blow off.

Dear All (message from CoCT Environmental Resource Management)

Please be aware that on current synoptic patterns we have a massive coastal storm approaching that will coincide with a spring high tide. Wednesday morning we are likely to see gale force winds of 70km/h associated with 12-16 m swell and a spring tide carrying all the way through to Thursday. In addition, the storm moves to the south so we should see large swells impacting False Bay as well.

This storm has the potential to cause significant damage to our coast, both public and private property.

Please make your staff in Sport and Rec aware of the possibility of damage and could I suggest that Disaster Management consider issuing a press release warning the public and even suggesting that they stay away from areas such as the Sea Point promenade, and warning private homeowners living right at the beach to be prepared for possible storm surge impacts to their property?

Biodiversity Strategy Assistant - Strategy and planning
Environmental Resource Management
City of Cape Town