Heavy rainfall and strong winds are expected in KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday. Image: Wikimedia Commons.
Significant rainfall exceeding 100mm expected in KwaZulu-Natal
An orange level 6 warning for disruptive rainfall exceeding 100mm has been issued for parts of KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday.
Heavy rainfall and strong winds are expected in KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday. Image: Wikimedia Commons.
A significant amount of rainfall exceeding 100mm is expected in parts of KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday, 13 March.
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued an orange level 6 warning for disruptive rain in the province.
WARNING ISSUED OVER DISRUPTIVE RAINFALL IN KWAZULU-NATAL
In the warning, the weather service said significant rainfall is expected over the extreme north-eastern parts of KZN.
Areas likely to be affected include uMhlathuze, Big Five Hlabisa, Mtubatuba, Nongoma, Jozini, Phongolo, and Umhlabuyalingana Local Municipalities.
A moderate tropical storm, Filipo, will result in widespread showers and thundershowers over KwaZulu-Natal. Significant rainfall amounts exceeding 100mm may cause considerable damage.
On Monday, 11 March, SAWS said the north-eastern extremity of KZN, especially the coast and adjacent interior northwards of Richards Bay, can expect sustained, extremely heavy rainfall on Wednesday.
“The heavy rain will cease abruptly by Thursday as the system leaves southern Africa and moves off into the southern Indian Ocean, east of South Africa.”
POSSIBLE IMPACTS:
- Flooding of roads, bridges and settlements (formal and informal)
- Danger to life due to fast flowing streams and deep rivers
- Major disruption of traffic flow due to flooded roads
- Damage to mud-based houses
- Disruption to essential services including water, electricity and communication.
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) has activated disaster management teams in all the municipalities that are likely to be affected.
“We advise communities to seek shelter in safe places. Public facilities such as community halls are open as safe havens for those in need of shelter. Our teams may have to evacuate people should they foresee high risk of anger due to inclement weather,” KZN Cogta spokesperson Siboniso Mngadi said.
