Community cautioned as floods may be looming
The South African Weather Services said there is significant uncertainty in the predictions of whether a La Niña event will occur that could potentially result in heavy rainfall.

Looking back at February 2023, when floods ravaged homes, roads and schools on the Lowveld escarpment, could 2025 follow a similar pattern?
In December, the South African Weather Services (SAWS) predicted a seasonal climate watch from January to May.
This indicated the development of a weak La Niña state during mid-summer, which may only affect South Africa’s summer rainfall during the latter parts of the season. La Niña is a weather pattern that occurs when the ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean cool and atmospheric conditions reverse.
The SAWS said there is still significant uncertainty in the predictions at this stage on whether a La Niña event will occur. The country could be in for a wet summer with potential flooding in some parts, as well as higher-than-normal temperatures.
With these showers expected to occur closer to the end of January, some parts of the Lowveld have already experienced destructive rain, such as the Sabie River flooding some roads in Kruger National Park (KNP), and a 19-year-old woman who had to be rescued from the Inkomati River after she attempted to cross an overflowing bridge on her way to Phiva in Nkomazi on January 10.
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The heavy rainfall in 2023 was caused by a La Niña event, with a downpour of 50 to 150mm in the Lowveld escarpment from February 6 to 12. During the latter half of that week, a slow-moving upper-air cut-off low pressure system lingered over the interior, causing widespread and often heavy rain over the eastern and north-eastern provinces.
This extreme rainfall resulted in widespread flooding. Major rivers, especially those transiting the KNP and Lowveld, like the Crocodile River, was in full flood in most areas, including Tekwane South, the KNP, Bushbuckridge and Nkomazi. Many low-water bridges and causeways were underwater and roads were left inaccessible due to damage.

This resulted in a declaration of a national state of disaster. In the beginning of the 2024/25 summer season, some heavy storms damaged schools and hospitals in Bushbuckridge and even some in the Highveld escarpment of Mpumalanga.
While the SAWS has not yet clearly predicted heavy rainfall to persist until the end of summer season, the public is advised to be cautious and to avoid crossing overflowing rivers and building houses or shelters near riverbeds or low-lying areas.
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Furthermore, the MEC for community safety, security and liaison, Jackie Macie, urged motorists to observe speed limits and adjust their driving in line with changing road conditions.
“The ongoing torrential rains across most parts of the province require motorists to be highly cautious to avoid disasters. It is important that where visibility is reduced due to rain or misty conditions, speed is reduced and prudent following distances between the vehicles must be strictly adhered to. Motorists must be mindful of potholes as they may not be visible when it is raining. They are also advised to switch on their headlights. Motorists should avoid crossing overflowing bridges,” Macie said.