News

’89mm rainfall’: Heavy rains forecasted in THESE parts of KZN

Rainfall of up to 89mm has already been recorded in Margate, KwaZulu-Natal. The SA weather service has forecasted heavy rains from Tuesday.

Residents should expect more rain in January and March 2023. Images: Pixabay and Gallo Images.

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) has urged residents to postpone non-essential travel until the inclement weather subsides as heavy rains persist in the province.

This comes as the South African Weather Service (SAWS) has reportedly forecasted heavy rains which have already battered parts of the province. 

HEAVY RAINS EXPECTED IN KWAZULU-NATAL

According to KZN COGTA, the Ugu District Municipality, encompassing Ray Nkonyeni, Umuziwabantu, Umdoni, and Umzumbe Local Municipalities, have been placed on orange level 6 alert, the second highest warning level.

The heavy rains are anticipated to persist from Tuesday, 27 June through Wednesday morning. 

ALSO READ: Warning: Up to 6.5m damaging waves expected in Eastern Cape

KZN COGTA spokesperson Siboniso Mngadi said Margate and Port Edward have already reported rainfall measurements of 89mm and 49mm respectively since Monday, 26 June.  However, weather models indicate that additional rainfall is expected over the Ugu District Municipality, gradually subsiding early Wednesday. 

Heavy rains in KwaZulu-Natal have resulted in localised flooding in various parts of the province. Photo: Facebook/PT Alarms

ALSO READ: Possible snowfall: Very cold, windy weather expected in two provinces

POSSIBLE IMPACTS

Mngadi said it is important to acknowledge the potential risks associated with these heavy rains. 

Flooding of roads, bridges, and settlements, both formal and informal, is highly likely. The fast-flowing streams and deep waters pose a significant threat to life. Moreover, the flooding may cause major disruptions to traffic flow, impacting essential services such as water, electricity, and communication. Additionally, there is a risk of damage to mud-based houses in the affected areas.

“The department has activated all disaster management services in the affected areas. The teams stand ready to respond promptly and effectively wherever necessary. We strongly advise residents to closely monitor water levels and relocate to higher ground to avoid any potential disasters.  Should residents experience any difficulties, they are urged to contact their local leadership,” he said. 

ALSO READ: SNOW expected TODAY in these parts of South Africa

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ARTICLES BY NOKWANDA NCWANE

Nokwanda Ncwane

Nokwanda is a passionate writer and journalism graduate. Her byline has appeared in the Sunday Independent, Pretoria News and IOL. She started her journey with TheSouthAfrican.com in their #gig4student project and through hard work, she eventually joined the news team.

Recent Posts

Who are the most-capped Springboks in Test rugby?

Discover the names of the seven players who have played more over 100 Tests in…

12 months ago

Springboks trophy tour bus crashes in the Eastern Cape

The Springbok branded Tour bus was involved accident that happened on Monday while the vehicle was travelling from…

12 months ago

Several SEVERE weather alerts issued for the country from TODAY

Shorts and slops or an umbrella? Here's what the weather holds for every province in…

1 year ago

Guinness World Records: Largest LEGO® brick playing card

The largest LEGO® brick playing card is 3.69 m X 2.59 m (12 ft 1…

1 year ago

Joke of the day: Stocking up on green beans – 16 October 2023

Laughter is the best medicine they say and South Africans certainly could do with a…

1 year ago

WEATHER: Severe thunderstorms, winds, heavy rain and HAIL to hit these parts of SA

Shorts and slops or an umbrella? Here's what the weather holds for every province in…

1 year ago