UPDATE: Tropical storm Dineo to bring eMalahleni rain

UPDATE:

Tropical storm Dineo now has sustained winds of around 90km/h around its eye with gusts reaching 120km/h.
Dineo has continued to strengthen over the warm waters of the Mozambique Channel overnight.

Reports indicate that Dineo will rapidly intensify into an intense tropical cyclone within the next 24 hours, while moving closer to the southern Mozambique coastline.

Tofo beach

The current predicted path shows Dineo making landfall just north of Inhambane tonight, Wednesday February 15.
It is expected to cause havoc with average wind speeds of 160km/h, gusting over 200km/h, equivalent to a category two hurricane in the North Atlantic.

By Thursday evening Dineo is expected to continue moving westwards towards the northern Lowveld, bringing strong, gusty winds to eastern Limpopo and Mpumalanga, and heavy rain will begin to affect the area from Thursday evening. Persistent, heavy showers are likely to continue into Friday for these areas, although this is highly dependant on whether Dineo remains on her current forecast track.

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Tropical Storm Dineo is set to bring rain to eMalahleni. The Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre (RSMC) La Reunion has reported that wind speeds are set to be up to 212km/h and can bring up to 400mm rain when it hits the coast and inland of Mozambique.

Residents of eMalahleni are also warned to be safe during heavy rainfalls as Flash Floods can occur and to make sure that households and vehicles are protected against the rains.

Photo courtesy News24

Following the warning, Netcare 911 sent out a few tips to help with the heavy rainfalls predicted for Mpumalanga and parts of Gauteng.

Netcare911 is urging members of the public to be extra careful while driving in the wet weather conditions that are being experienced in some parts of Gauteng this afternoon.

Wet weather conditions are usually associated with poor visibility so here are a few tips to make sure you are safe:

1. Make sure your windshield wipers are in a good condition.
2. Ensure that your tyres are also in a good condition.
3. Make sure all headlights , taillights , brake lights and indicators are properly functioning to ensure that other drivers can see you during heavy rains.
4. Turn on your headlights.
5. When driving in wet weather conditions, remember to slow down (reduce speed)
6. Maintain a safe following distance between vehicle’s
7. Overtake only when it is safe to do so.
8. Do not drive under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
9. Avoid using your phone while your car is in motion.
10. Most importantly, buckle up!
11. Ensure that children/babies are secured in a car child seat.
12. DO NOT drive on roads that you are unfamiliar with.

Flash floods occur within six hours of heavy rains and this can find people unprepared. You will not always have a warning that these deadly, sudden floods are coming. So if you do live in areas prone to flash floods make sure you are safe.

Below are a few tips to protect yourself and your family

1. Always memorise emergency numbers, in this case 082 911.
2. Avoid low lying areas, climb to higher ground if you find yourself in the middle of a flash flood.
3. Avoid walking or driving through flash floods.
4. Abandon your vehicle immediately if you find yourself in the middle of a flash flood, open the window and escape!