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Heavy rains, gale-force winds, big swells, and flooding in the Western Cape

Over the past few days, Western Cape communities have been faced with heavy rain, flooding, and damaging, gale-force winds. This is a selection of images of scenes from the past 96 hours.
Heavy rains, gale-force winds, big swells, and flooding in the Western Cape A warning was sent out on the Deep South WhatsApp group about flooding on Ou Kaapse Weg in Cape Town, at the Noordhoek/Silvermine turnoff, on 9 July 2024. (Photo: Deep South Whatsapp Group)

Commuters on a motorcycle ride through the ponds of water in the streets of Bloekombos after the heavy rains on July 07, 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa. According to City of Cape Town officials, nearly one thousand homes in informal settlements have been destroyed by gale-force winds, displacing around 4,000 people. (Photo by Gallo Images/Die Burger/Theo Jeptha)



Residents and city officials takes action in Retreat, Cape Town during severe flooding caused by heavy rain and cold fronts on July 09, 2024 in Cape Town South Africa. The Provincial Disaster Management Centre reported that several fronts are expected to impact the weather in the Western Cape until next week Friday, 12 July 2024. (Photo by Gallo Images/ER Lombard)



Houses flooded after the heavy rains in Khayelitsha on July 07, 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa. According to City of Cape Town officials, nearly one thousand homes in informal settlements have been destroyed by gale-force winds, displacing around 4,000 people. (Photo by Gallo Images/Die Burger/Theo Jeptha)



Many homes in the area called Kwazulu in Masiphumelele Township were flooded on July 10, 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa. According to City of Cape Town officials, nearly one thousand homes in informal settlements have been destroyed by gale-force winds, displacing around 4,000 people. (Photo by Gallo Images/Brenton Geach)



Nombulelo Bonana (60) explains how the rainwater went inside her house in Khayelitsha on July 07, 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa. According to City of Cape Town officials, nearly one thousand homes in informal settlements have been destroyed by gale-force winds, displacing around 4,000 people. (Photo by Gallo Images/Die Burger/Theo Jeptha)



A neighborhood road flooded after heavy rain and cold fronts on July 09, 2024 in Cape Town South Africa. The Provincial Disaster Management Centre reported that several fronts are expected to impact the weather in the Western Cape until next week Friday, 12 July 2024. (Photo by Gallo Images/Ziyaad Douglas)



A view of a flooded road caused by heavy rain and cold fronts on July 09, 2024 in Cape Town South Africa. The Provincial Disaster Management Centre reported that several fronts are expected to impact the weather in the Western Cape until next week Friday, 12 July 2024. (Photo by Gallo Images/Ziyaad Douglas)



A person running as huge waves smashing against the breakwater in Thre Anchor Bay caused foam on July 08, 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa. It is reported that the South African Weather Service (SAWS) has further upgraded its initial warning from Yellow Level 4 to Yellow Level 6 for disruptive rain. (Photo by Gallo Images/Brenton Geach)



Waves smashing against the breakwater in Thre Anchor Bay caused foam on July 08, 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa. It is reported that the South African Weather Service (SAWS) has further upgraded its initial warning from Yellow Level 4 to Yellow Level 6 for disruptive rain. (Photo by Gallo Images/Brenton Geach)



A beachfront bench covered in foam as huge waves smash against the breakwater in Thre Anchor Bay caused foam on July 08, 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa. It is reported that the South African Weather Service (SAWS) has further upgraded its initial warning from Yellow Level 4 to Yellow Level 6 for disruptive rain. (Photo by Gallo Images/Brenton Geach)



Huge waves smashing against the breakwater in Thre Anchor Bay caused foam on July 08, 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa. It is reported that the South African Weather Service (SAWS) has further upgraded its initial warning from Yellow Level 4 to Yellow Level 6 for disruptive rain. (Photo by Gallo Images/Brenton Geach)



Huge waves break off Sea Point on July 08, 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa. It is reported that the South African Weather Service (SAWS) has further upgraded its initial warning from Yellow Level 4 to Yellow Level 6 for disruptive rain. (Photo by Gallo Images/Brenton Geach)



Big swells hit the coast at Bloiuberg on July 08, 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa. It is reported that the South African Weather Service (SAWS) has further upgraded its initial warning from Yellow Level 4 to Yellow Level 6 for disruptive rain. (Photo by Gallo Images/Misha Jordaan)



Strong winds caused a large tree to be uprooted on Bree street in the City center on July 08, 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa. It is reported that the South African Weather Service (SAWS) has further upgraded its initial warning from Yellow Level 4 to Yellow Level 6 for disruptive rain. (Photo by Gallo Images/Brenton Geach)



At the Cape Town station deck, small businesses surrounded by floods struggle to stay afloat as parts of Cape Town continue to be flooded on Tuesday 9 July following the weekend rainfall. . (Photo: Lisakanya Venna)



At the Cape Town station deck, people have to jump to avoid puddles of water as parts of Cape Town continue to be flooded on Tuesday 9 July following the weekend rainfall. (Photo: Lisakanya Venna)



At the Cape Town taxi rank, taxi passengers have to navigate waterlogged ranks, as parts of Cape Town continued to be flooded on Tuesday 9 July following the weekend rainfall. (Photo: Lisakanya Venna.)



weather A warning was sent out on the Deep South WhatsApp group about flooding on Ou Kaapse Weg in Cape Town, at the Noordhoek/Silvermine turnoff, on 9 July 2024. (Photo: Deep South Whatsapp Group). DM



Read more in Daily Maverick: Western Cape severe weather updates, home protection tips, and relief resources

Comments (3)

Gavin Brown Jul 11, 2024, 03:41 PM

"A place where the poor are burnt, blown and flooded away on the flatlands and the rich cling to the mountainside like barnacles" (Edgar Wallace - circa 1930's?)

David Muller Jul 11, 2024, 01:29 PM

The rain it raineth every day On the just and unjust fella But more upon the just Because the unjust has the just's Umbrella.... Ogden Nash

Tanneke Bosma Jul 11, 2024, 02:40 PM

The trouble with geraniums Is that they're much too red. The trouble with my toast is that it's far too full of bread. By Mervin Peak

David Pennington Jul 11, 2024, 02:57 AM

Tis a blustery night here in Fishy Hoek piglet!