Orange LEVEL 9 weather alert issued for KZN this week

Lots of rain ahead: The SA Weather Service has issued orange level 9 and level 5 weather warnings for KZN this week.

By: Michelle Swart

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued orange level 9 and orange level 5 warnings for KZN for Thursday, 5 January 2023.

SEVERAL WEATHER WARNINGS ISSUED FOR KZN

An orange level 9 weather warning was issued for KwaZulu-Natal, leading to the following:

• Disruptive rainfall
• Widespread flooding of roads, settlements, and bridges
• Danger to life as a result of fast-flowing deep water
• Widespread displacement of communities
• Widespread and prolonged disruptions to essential services such as water, electricity and communication systems

Areas affected are Ethekwini Metro, Mkhambathini, Msunduzi Local Municipalities, Richmond, Ilembe District, and the eastern areas of King Cetswayo and places over Mkhanyakude District Municipality of KwaZulu-Natal.

Another orange level 5 warning was also issued for parts of KwaZulu-Natal.

More than 50mm of rain is expected which may lead to flooding of roads and settlements, displacements of communities and danger to life.

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SAFETY WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER

Arrive Alive has issued some tips when driving in severe weather.

• To keep a safe distance from the vehicle ahead of you, increase the three-second rule to five-six seconds.
• Slow down if it is raining and the roads are wet. Remove your foot from the accelerator and gradually reduce your speed.
• Never apply the brakes abruptly as this may cause the car to skid.
• Slow down and be prepared to move to the left shoulder if an oncoming vehicle is overtaking from the opposite direction and will not be able to do so safely.
• Only move towards the shoulder if you can see 150m ahead of you clearly. Keep in mind that pedestrians may be walking on the shoulder to avoid mud on the road’s surface.
• Be cautious of oil patches. Do not slam on the brakes; instead, steer through. Patches will be small in most cases.
• Before taking a bend, especially a sharp bend, always shift into a lower gear. As you approach the bend, your speed should be at its slowest, and both hands should be on the steering wheel. When driving around a bend, this slow in/fast out technique gives you the most control.
• Double your normal following distance from 3 seconds to 6 seconds to increase your space cushion.
• Switch on your headlights.
• Other vehicles in the rear and in blind spots should be avoided because they are difficult to see through rain-splattered windows.