It’s raining, it’s pouring and uThukela are snoring! Okay, not quite true. The recent rainfall, yesterday and this morning, is but a drop in the ocean when compared to the water requirements of the area.

The rain was most welcome last night in most places. However, less welcome was a thunderstorm with high winds that raged through the Ekuvukeni area, ripping off roofs and uprooting trees, although unaffected community members rushed to collect rainwater from puddles in the aftermath.

The simple truth is that despite all the rain that fell and is predicted to fall over the next few days, water restrictions and water-shedding will remain.

The level of the Klip River has not been raised at all.

However, there is tiny hope that the rainfall, which was larger than expected in parts of the catchment area, may increase water flow in the river. It takes about 12 hours for water falling in the catchment area to reach Ladysmith, say water experts. It will be only then that officials will know if there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Rainfall, in the form of afternoon cloud bursts, is predicted for the next five days.

That said, from Saturday, temperatures are expected to sour once more into the mid-30s.

Read our editorial note.

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