Durban: An Orange level 6 warning for disruptive rain has been issued for KwaZulu-Natal for Monday.
“Widespread showers and thundershowers are expected across KZN from Sunday afternoon into Monday (and possibly persisting until Tuesday morning). This will result in disruptive rain leading to significant impacts.
“Rainfall amounts in excess of 120mm are expected in places over eastern KZN on Monday, becoming more disruptive from Monday afternoon,” the South African Weather Service (SAWS) said.
Affected areas include the Big Five Hlabisa (Hlabisa, Hluhluwe), eThekwini, Jozini, KwaDukuza, Mandeni, Maphumulo, Mkhambathini, Mthonjaneni, Mtubatuba, Ndwedwe, Nkandla, Nongoma, Ray Nkonyeni, Richmond, Msunduzi, Ubuhlebezwe, Ulundi, uMdoni, uMhlabuyalingana, uMhlathuze, uMlalazi, uMshwathi, uMuziwabantu, uMvoti and uMzumbe.
SAWS said this could lead to the flooding of roads, bridges and settlements (formal and informal); danger to life (fast-flowing streams/deep waters); major disruption of traffic flow due to major roads being flooded; sinkholes and rockfalls and disruption to essential services (water, electricity, communication, etc.)
On Friday, the SAWS alerted motorists returning to economic activities, pedestrians and the public to be aware of heavy, disruptive rain across the central and eastern regions of South Africa from Sunday to at least Wednesday (January 5-8).
SAWS said the expected persistent rainfall, with associated risks, emphasises the need for caution and preparedness among all road users and the public.
“Scattered (60%) and widespread (80%) showers and thundershowers are expected on Sunday across the central and eastern regions of South Africa.
“These regions include (the) North West, the Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and the southern parts of Mpumalanga and Gauteng,” SAWS said.
The weather service said the likelihood of a significant increase in rainfall accumulation is suggested, with amounts ranging from 50 to 70mm. To this effect, road flooding, slippery surfaces, and broad flash flooding are possible.
SAWS advised: “The use of vehicle headlights while driving at a reasonably low speed, will be useful during the showery conditions. Motorists should ensure clear windscreens, as traffic and road markings could be difficult to see during the occurrence of heavy rain, even for vehicles with properly working wipers, in some instances.
“Further, it is inevitable that some low-water bridges could overflow, with powerful water currents that could sweep away vehicles and lead to loss of lives and property. It is strongly advised that motorists do not enter flooded low-water bridges or roads.”
SAWS explained that usually, summer thundershowers are confined to the afternoon and early evening hours. However, the continuous flow of warm moist air (tropical moisture) to South Africa from countries to the north is expected to cause showers at any time of the day. This means that ordinary or even heavy showers could be expected between 6pm and 1am.
Meanwhile, following flooding in Bhekuzulu in the Abaqulusi Local Municipality where over 29 households were affected, Mayor Khehla Mkhwanazi and municipal manager, Sibonga Dlamini convened an urgent meeting with the Department of Human Settlements to forge a way forward.
The municipality and department agreed they urgently need to relocate the families as their homes are built on a flood line and with heavier rains expected, the damage may potentially claim lives.
KZN Transport and Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma said following heavy rain and floods that destroyed houses in the Abaqulusi Local Municipality, a team from human settlements (provincial and national) were putting together a package of interventions following the destruction of houses in various municipalities.