The Lowveld’s rain is not over yet, weather service warns
February will continue to be a wet month in the Lowveld, according to several weather platforms.
According to yet another warning by the South African Weather Service (SAWS) issued this morning, February 13, a tropical wave will continue to enhance widespread showers and thundershowers over the Lowveld and escarpment areas of Mpumalanga.
The service issued orange level 9 and 5 warnings for significant to severe impact.
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In a further media release, the SAWS said that a slow-moving upper-air cut-off low-pressure system is lingering over the interior of the country, causing widespread and often heavy rain over the eastern and northeastern provinces.
The escarpment and Lowveld regions of Mpumalanga have borne the brunt of the flooding, with the southern half of the Kruger National Park particularly affected. Many low-water bridges and causeways, including the Crocodile Bridge and the causeway at Lower Sabie, are flooded, while numerous main roads, including the main road linking Skukuza to Lower Sabie, are closed due to flood damage.
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The current flooding situation in the Lowveld may be exacerbated by further rainfall, warned the SAWS.
The weather company SAWX predicts more rainfall for the majority of Mpumalanga throughout the coming week, although not as much as the area had seen in the past week. A two-week rainfall outlook indicates that residents’ rain meters will capture less rain as we near the end of the month, but measurements of up to approximately 60mm can still be expected.
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Furthermore, the SAWS says that the easterly wave is expected to subside from the evening of February 14, with the intensity of prolonged rainfall gradually tailing off. However, scattered to widespread showers and thunderstorms are still expected for the remainder of the week for a large portion of the country.
Lowvelders are asked to be careful when driving, as the roads are wet and further damage remains a high possibility.
