Laingsburg Flood

The Buffels River catchment is usually dry, due to its location in the rain shadow of the Langeberg, Swartberg and Witteberg mountains.

[2] However, occasionally, a high-pressure system offshore of the Western Cape can push moist air from the coast over the mountains, resulting in increased rainfall in the Buffels River catchment, in turn leading to increased water flow in the three rivers that converge near Laingsburg.

[2] On 24 and 25 January 1981, a synoptic-scale weather event developed over the south-western parts of South Africa, causing heavy rainfall in the region.

[6] A report published in January 1982 identified the geographical position of Laingsburg as making it particularly vulnerable to large floods.

Heavy sediment deposits result, especially in the vicinity of houses nearest to the enlarged river channel, where the flowing water's velocity is rapidly decreasing.

[7] The first flood reports emerged after SADF Super Frelon helicopters flew over the town at 09:00 on Monday morning the 26th of January 1981.