Cape town: The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued an Orange Level 8 weather warning for disruptive rainfall in the Western Cape. The adverse weather is expected to lead to the flooding of roads, bridges, and formal and informal settlements, mudslides, and danger to life due to fast-flowing rivers. These conditions are anticipated over the mountainous regions of the Drakenstein, Stellenbosch, the western parts of the Theewaterskloof, City of Cape Town, Breede Valley, and Witzenberg local municipalities of the Western Cape until Tuesday.

According to South African Government News Agency, SAWS has also issued an Orange Level 6 warning for disruptive rainfall leading to flooding of roads, low-lying bridges, and formal as well as informal settlements expected over the southern West Coast and western parts of the Overberg Districts of the Western Cape until Tuesday. Additionally, an Orange Level 6 warning for damaging winds and waves, leading to danger to navigation at sea and damage to coastal infrastructure, is expected along the coast between Lambert's Bay and Cannon Rocks until Tuesday.

Furthermore, an Orange Level 5 warning for damaging interior winds has been issued for the central parts of the Western Cape and the northern and central parts of the Eastern Cape but is expected in the Western Cape until Tuesday.

The SAWS has also released other warnings, including a Yellow Level 4 warning for damaging winds and waves along the coast between Alexander Bay to Lambert's Bay until Tuesday. A Yellow Level 2 warning for disruptive rainfall leading to localized flooding of low-lying bridges and formal as well as informal settlements is expected over the northern parts of the West Coast, eastern parts of the Cape Winelands, and Overberg Districts of the Western Cape until Tuesday.

Moreover, a Yellow Level 2 warning for damaging winds leading to localized damage of informal settlements and falling trees is expected in places in the Western Cape, southern part of the Eastern Cape, interior of the KwaZulu-Natal, southern and eastern parts of the Free State, as well as the central and southern part of the Northern Cape on Sunday but expected in the Western Cape until Tuesday.

Additionally, a Yellow Level 2 warning for disruptive snowfall leading to loss of vulnerable livestock, traffic disruptions due to icy roads, and possible closure of mountain passes are expected over the Karoo Hoogland municipality of the Northern Cape and in places over the Cape Winelands District of the Western Cape, as well as the northern part of the Eastern Cape until Monday.

In response to the warnings, the Western Cape government has strengthened its disaster readiness measures. The Provincial Disaster Management Centre has activated coordination mechanisms across all districts and in the City of Cape Town, with all disaster management centres placed on high alert.

The provincial government is urging residents to monitor official communication channels for the latest updates, avoid unnecessary travel during severe conditions, exercise caution near rivers, low-lying bridges, and coastal areas, and secure loose objects and prepare for strong winds.