blaaislaai
Executive Member
Bucketing down here in Strand.
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Rain and storm for Cpt
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Gordon_R
Honorary Master
17mm so far in our gauge in Kenilworth. I mis-timed dog walking, and got soaked in a downpour. Wind is gusty, but not as strong as some predictions.
IMO this is one of the wettest March months on record, and perhaps one of the coolest summers as well.
IMO this is one of the wettest March months on record, and perhaps one of the coolest summers as well.
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Gordon_R
Honorary Master
Interesting synoptic chart, with compact low just south of CT, and strong NW winds after the first cold-front has already passed:
![ship[20230320_0600_crop].png](https://mybroadband.co.za/forum/data/attachments/1434/1434751-450c172aa46010a84b0b2c6d3459e95f.jpg?hash=RQwXKqRgEK "ship[20230320_0600_crop].png")
Source: https://www.weathersa.co.za/images/data/specialised/ma_sy.gif
Source: https://www.weathersa.co.za/images/data/specialised/ma_sy.gif
They don't usually occlude so close to land this side of the world do they?
I am in the 34th year of keeping rainfall records in our Claremont garden. So far this March we are up to 83mm (not including the close to 5mm that's fallen since about 8am today) which is now our 3rd highest monthly total after 104mm in 2014 and 105mm in 2021. The previous 3rd place was 58.5mm in 2016. So yes, it's been a wet March, but it's our winter months that really matter. It was great to have our 2 linked 5000 litre tanks overflow earlier today for the first time in several months.
Gordon_R
Honorary Master
The models a few days ago initially showed a cutoff-low, so this system has evolved rather differently from a normal cold-front...
Nerfherder
Honorary Master
The way you say that makes me want to start boarding up my windows....
Gordon_R
Honorary Master
Various models and forecasts show a moderate intensity cutoff-low and upper-trough passing over the SW-Cape during the next 48 hours. Heavy showers and thunderstorms are likely over the interior, with some rain likely for CT itself:
![mslp_6h_totp_018[20230323_1800].gif](https://mybroadband.co.za/forum/data/attachments/1436/1436449-4689345399ba365a9c3317bad0904010.jpg?hash=Rok0U5m6Nl "mslp_6h_totp_018[20230323_1800].gif")
Source: https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/international/cpci/data/00/gfs_mslp_precip_safrica.html
Source: https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/international/cpci/data/00/gfs_mslp_precip_safrica.html
Captain Beer
Executive Member
Beautiful thunderstorm here in S/West, may it hang around all night 
Gordon_R
Honorary Master
10mm in our gauge in Kenilworth this morning (Fri 24th). Most of the rain was from high level clouds, with a bit of thunder. The wind direction changed several times, which is unusual for storms in CT. A surface low is developing offshore, and this system will persist for at least anther 24-36 hours, though with drier spells today.
Diabolix
Senior Member
Some proper storms in Kuilsriver through the night, it's weird to see my JoJo's overflowing this time of the year.
Dimpie (JIGSAW)
Honorary Master
My dad reported 30mm in Betty's since 18:00 last night 
It was coming down properly in the early hours of this morning. Had 21mm overnight here in Bellville.
Edit: Oh wait that's a lie. There were some showers throughout the day yesterday as well. So 21mm in the last day, not only throughout the night.
Edit: Oh wait that's a lie. There were some showers throughout the day yesterday as well. So 21mm in the last day, not only throughout the night.
Gordon_R
Honorary Master
The SAWS reports heavy rain in parts of the interior of the Western Cape during the 24 hours to 8am on Fri 24th:
Highest include Ashton 78mm, Ceres 70mm, Villiersdorp 63mm, Jonkershoek 48mm, etc.
Highest include Ashton 78mm, Ceres 70mm, Villiersdorp 63mm, Jonkershoek 48mm, etc.
some decent numbers, hoping with more than average MAR23 rainfall numbers in catchment(TWK) areas that run_off will increase moving forward?
Gordon_R
Honorary Master
The Berg River Dam is always the first to fill up during heavy rains. Since Mon 20th it has risen 3.2% to 72.9%. The rest had much smaller changes (less than 1% overall). See:
https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family ...and-sanitation-services/this-weeks-dam-levels
Edit: The SAEON Dwarsberg weather station now has a soil moisture record. You can see the significant rise from 15% to 40% since the beginning of March: https://lognet.saeon.ac.za/Dwarsberg/index.html
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Rocco1
Expert Member
The Voelvlei dam is the one to watch. Its the most northern catchment, so more affected by changes in front direction and also currently the lowest.
Its pretty significant as its the only dam to serve all northern CT, Paarl, and most of the West Coast. No interconnected water network that side, so not able to be served by the other main dams
Its pretty significant as its the only dam to serve all northern CT, Paarl, and most of the West Coast. No interconnected water network that side, so not able to be served by the other main dams
Diabolix
Senior Member
Not sure if this is a bit off topic, but with the semigration to the Cape area are there any longer-term dam builds on the roadmap? (Where would they even go) Or is COCT just planning on desalination going forward to support the increase in water demand?
Gordon_R
Honorary Master
Persistent heavy rain during the early hours of this morning (Sat 25th). 18mm in our gauge in Kenilworth. Drier now, but rain predicted for the whole day.
Definitely the wettest March in living memory. Our lawn is loving it. Some farmers probably not so much.
Definitely the wettest March in living memory. Our lawn is loving it. Some farmers probably not so much.
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