One of the worst weather periods has co-incided with the Festive Season in Cape Town and the Western Cape, leaving many visitors disappointed with the weather, and the effect it has had on their holidays, especially for those that have travelled from far.
The South-Easter battered Cape Town in December, and the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company has reported that the largest number of Cableway closures was experienced last month by far, and that the Cableway was only able to operate for 55% of its potential operating hours in December, reports the Cape Argus. In the festive season week, the Cableway lost 25000 visitors due to the gale force winds and resultant restricted visibility. The wind blew at a speed of over 100 km/hour in Camps Bay and in many parts of Cape Town, leading guests to check out of accommodation establishments early, as happened at Whale Cottage Camps Bay, and at other establishments. No sooner had the wind died down, two days of rain followed on the first two days of 2011.
Inland areas, as well as towns such as Hermanus and those on the Garden Route, were overcast and experienced rain while the South-Easter was pumping in Cape Town.
Not only did the wind and rain affect the holiday plans of tourists, but the weather also played havoc with swimming pools of accommodation establishments, which were filled with sand daily, and which were difficult to keep blue. The wonderful Camps Bay beach, as well as many others, were a no-go zone on South-Easter days, ‘sandblasting’ beachgoers. Few beaches in Cape Town are South-Easter proof, Clifton being the most protected against the wind.
Despite the wind and rain, the weather was better than tourists would have experienced in the UK, USA and in Europe, with extremely low temperatures and snow storms in the past two weeks.
Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com Twitter: @WhaleCottage
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Lol – Chris, Do people really ever come to the Cape for it’s weather?
If there is one thing I cannot stand it is wind.
Born in CT and still hate the relentless wind.
My pool is always filled with dirt and I have a constant battle to keep my brick paving clean. We don’t even want to go outside to enjoy nature.Then when the south easter dies down,you have the traditional north wester which brings howling gales and never ending rain.My wife and I will be selling and moving well away from this horrible weather.