KwaZulu-Natal residents have endured a wet weekend so far, with reports of widespread flooding, including a virtually impassable N2 just south of Hluhluwe.

For uMkhanyakude District, the severe rainfall began on Friday, with the Mkhuze river in full flood and the N2 near Pongola having to be closed overnight owing to a mudslide that occurred earlier in the day.

Sodwana residents recorded over 500mm of rain since Tuesday, while Meerensee in Richards Bay has measured over 90mm from 16:00 yesterday.

The uMhlathuze Central Sport Complex in Veldenvlei recorded 57.3mm as at 18:00 yesterday, and a total of 93.9mm since Tuesday.

The rain started when a cut-off low pressure system brought a deluge to the Lowveld region in Mpumalanga, causing the Crocodile and Komati rivers to burst their banks.

According to the Severe Weather and Information Centre SA (SWAICSA) Facebook page, apart from the cut-off low over the country’s interior, there is a tropical depression situated over the east coast of southern Mozambique.

While this is neither a tropical storm nor cyclone, it is associated with heavy rainfall.

The SA Weather Service (SAWS) yesterday issued an orange level 9 warning for heavy rainfall for the northern KZN coastal region, including King Cetshwayo and uMkhanyakude districts, and a level 5 rainfall warning for inland regions, as well as Ilembe District and eThekwini Metro.

“Widespread flooding can be expected over the northern interior of KZN and the coast and adjacent interior, with severe impacts possible along the northern coastline this evening into tomorrow morning,” says the SAWS.

SAWS says potential impacts include widespread flooding of settlements and roads, with damage to property and infrastructure; disruption to traffic flow due to major roads being flooded or closed; communities may be cut-off, and danger to life owing to fast and deep-flowing water.

Communities are reminded to not attempt to cross low-level bridges or roads, or swollen rivers.