KZN floods: EIGHT weather records smashed – after ‘300mm of rain’ falls

The sheer scale of the KZN floods could be tricky to get our heads round – but the viral footage of widespread destruction and torrential conditions leaves us in no doubt that we’re dealing with something out of the ordinary here. And, judging by the SA Weather Service’s data, this latest rainfall is a multiple record-breaker.

ALSO READ: KZN floods – SANDF called in to help with rescue efforts and disaster relief

KZN floods SMASH weather records

That’s because EIGHT regions in KZN and around Durban have set new totals for the highest ever daily rainfall figures. Four of those locations actually saw downpours go past the 300mm mark within the last 24 hours.

The measurements, which span for the entirety of Monday 11 April, have led to some places either doubling OR trebling their previous highest totals for daily rainfall. With more rain forecast for Tuesday afternoon, it’s likely that even more long-standing records will fall away later in the day.

Revealed: New daily rainfall records set this week

• MARGATE recorded over 300mm of rain on Monday 11 April, smashing a 29-year-old record.
• PENNINGTON SOUTH managed to treble its own local record, after 307mm of rain fell during the KZN floods.
• MOUNT EDGECOMBE shattered a 62-year-old record, and also tracked 307mm of precipitation yesterday.
• VIRGINIA, meanwhile, doubled its previous highest total – breaching the 303mm barrier.
• EMERALD DALE annihilated its ‘previous best’ from 1960, rising from 46mm to 74mm on Monday.
• KING SHAKA was essentially submerged by its new record total of 225mm within 24 hours.
• PORT EDWARD made a mockery of its existing rainfall record, as downpours reached 187mm in this part of KZN.
• PIETERMARITZBURG is the biggest area on this list, and its new daily highest rainfall total stands at 98mm.
  

New daily rainfall records set for the month of April. The most noteworthy being Mount Edgecombe — recording an impressive 307.0mm — the heaviest during the station's 62 year operational lifetime.

Data: @SAWeatherServic pic.twitter.com/FJDsnOcX0r

— Weathe☈ Whiz Kid (@Themeteoguy) April 12, 2022