Severe tropical storms expected in KZN
Durban will not experience weather conditions ushered in by cyclone Dineo.
A tropical disturbance is one of the first stages before a tropical cyclone and consists of heavy rainfall and strong winds. According to media reports, some areas in KZN will begin to feel the effects from tomorrow.
“These could also result in a bit of significant rainfall on the far northern coastline, as well as the far northern interior. Gale force winds are very likely in that area as well – with a bit of rough sea conditions,” said reports.
Areas further south – including Durban will not experience weather conditions ushered in by Cyclone Dineo.
According to Aon South Africa, risk advisors and insurance brokerage, in the last four years, weather-related damage has cost the South African insurance industry in excess of R 3-billion in losses.
The top three perils- flooding, earthquake and severe weather – combined for 70 per cent of all economic losses in 2016.
Pieter Visser, a catastrophe analyst at Aon South Africa, said factors such as climate change, more intense weather events, greater coastal exposures and population migration shifts are all contributors to the growing trend in weather catastrophes.
“With these parameters in place, and forecasts continuing to signal greater risk and vulnerability, it is anticipated that weather-related catastrophe losses will further increase in the coming years.
“Locally, there were three substantial catastrophe events that impacted the reinsurance catastrophe market in South Africa. Two of these events were accompanied by heavy rainfall and flood events, which is noteworthy as the country has not witnessed many flood related losses in the last decade. The third event is the drought which is estimated to be the worst catastrophe that South Africa has experienced in decades,” Visser added.
