Weather warning: Wet Friday on the cards for Zululand region

This autumn is shaping up to be a very wet one, with yet another warning for disruptive rain issued by the South African Weather Service (SAWS).

Issued this (Thursday) morning, the level 4 warning is in place from midnight tonight until midnight tomorrow.

Areas in the Zululand region set to be affected are Hluhluwe, Mandeni, Mtubatuba, uMhlabuyalingana, uMhlathuze and uMlalazi.

“Disruptive rain leading to flooding of roads and settlements, and damage to infrastructure is expected along the coast and adjacent interior of KZN tomorrow [Friday],” said the weather desk.

“A cut-off low pressure system is expected to be exiting the country tomorrow, resulting in an onshore flow in the east.

“As a result, scattered to widespread showers and thundershowers are expected over KZN but isolated in the west, accompanied by heavy downpours that will result in a low likelihood of significant impacts over the above-mentioned areas.”

Potential impact

• Flooding of settlements, roads and bridges
• Damage to property and infrastructure
• Damage to mud-based houses
• Poor driving conditions
• Major disruption to traffic flow due to roads and bridges being closed or flooded

“If possible, stay indoors and off the roads; avoid crossing rivers and swollen streams where water is above your ankles; if trapped in a vehicle during a flood, abandon it and climb to higher ground; in buildings, move valuables to a safe place above the expected flood level; in rural areas, move livestock to higher ground,” advised SAWS.

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