Widespread rain hits eastern parts of Mpumalanga, more to come
Continuous rainfall has indeed resulted in localised flooding in the Lowveld, as SAWS had warned.
It has been raining non-stop since the early hours of yesterday morning, February 8, and the current scenes in and around the Kruger National Park echoes the flood warnings that the South African Weather Service (SAWS) has been issuing throughout the week.
SAWS published a media statement on Monday February 6, indicating that the Lowveld can expect persistent rainfall. The service issued a level 5 warning for disruptive rain on Wednesday February 8.
ALSO READ: Some Kruger roads compromised by heavy rainfall
Following the continuous rainfall the Lowveld has experienced throughout the past week, the ground is already saturated with water and dams and rivers are either flowing or about to overflood their banks.
According to a two-week rain outlook by SAWX, a South African weather company, published on their website on Wednesday, Mbombela and surrounds can expect up to 200mm or more until February 16. The sky is predicted to start clearing up the week thereafter.
In the meantime, Storm Report SA, another weather company in the country, advised residents to stay indoors and off the roads, and to avoid crossing rivers and swollen streams where the water rises above the ankles. “Never drive on a road covered by water. You do not know how deep it is or if the road has been washed away,” it said.
Lowvelder will continue to update its readers accordingly.
