Watch: SA marvels at snow, despairs over floods

Parts of the country are covered in a white blanket, thanks to the first snow of the season, while other areas have seen damaging rain and devastation.

June 3, 2024
Caxton Reporter 3 minutes read
Snow in Carnarvon, devastation in Kariega, and hail in Tongaat. Photos: Storm Report SA/Bradley Murray/@ReenvalSA.

South Africa is in the grip of icy temperatures, snowfall and devastating floods.

The severe weather forecast as a result of a cut-off low-pressure system is affecting parts of South Africa, with some rejoicing in the winter wonderland and others in shock as heavy rainfall claims lives and damages roads and buildings.

Earlier today, the South African Weather Service (SAWS) said that mountain snowfalls were expected over the northern high ground of the Eastern Cape, the eastern high ground of the Western Cape, the southern high ground of the Northern Cape, parts of the Drakensberg and in Lesotho.

Eastern Cape devastation

In the eastern part of the country, disruptive rain has left devastation in its wake.

SA News reports that search-and-rescue operations are underway in the Buffalo City metro area after a 20-year-old was washed away near Dawn in East London.

“In an update at 13:30, the metro said that 1 300 people had been displaced by the floods,” it reports.

Nelson Mandela Bay Mayor Gary van Niekerk, in a statement issued on his behalf, said ‘light rain during the day [is seen] as an opportunity to count the cost of the disaster’.

“The impact of the heavy rain over the weekend caused destruction of our road infrastructure and bridges, especially in the Kariega area, where we have been hit the hardest,” the statement reads.

To add to the weather woes, SAWS has issued a Level 6 warning for disruptive rain in Buffalo City, Kouga, Ndlambe, Nelson Mandela Bay and Ngqushwa. The warning is in place until tomorrow at 22:00.

Yesterday, the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality said two people had died, two were reported missing and 65 people had been rescued following severe flooding. “Emergency services have been working throughout the night and are still working and searching to assist people affected by the flooding. All residents are requested to take precautions,” metro spokesperson Sithembiso Soyaya said.

Heavy downpours in KZN

The South Coast has been battered by heavy rains, which has led to 11 beaches being closed.

South Coast Herald reports that a Level 4 warning for disruptive rain was issued by SAWS for the Ray Nkonyeni, Umzumbe, Umdoni and Umuziwabantu municipal areas.

@southcoastherald WEATHER UPDATE ‼️💨🌧⚡️🌩 A massive storm just hit the KZN South Coast a short while ago. It’s only 15:20, and the sky has gone a darker shade of grey in Port Shepstone. 🐕Pet owners are urged to keep their animals safe inside, especially during the bad weather | South Coast Herald . #mondaymood #rain #badweather #weather #windy #darksky ♬ original sound – southcoastherald
@southcoastherald WEATHER UPDATE 🌧 This video has been circulating on social media since yesterday (June 1). It has been confirmed that emergency services were immediately dispatched to help this family in Ramsgate. *Video: Whatsapp . #weather #kzntiktok #flooding #rain #water #kznsouthcoast #ramsgate ♬ original sound – southcoastherald

Bathing and other recreational activities have been suspended at these beaches until further notice:

  • Hibberdene
  • Umzumbe
  • South Port
  • St Mike’s
  • Uvongo
  • Manaba
  • Margate
  • Ramsgate
  • Marina
  • Trafalgar
  • Port Edward

Tornado?

In other weather news, what appears to be a tornado tore through parts of north-west KZN this afternoon.

Snow causes winter wonderland

In other parts of the country, the weather was kinder to communities and social media users were quick to share their snow photos. Thousands of people were in awe of a video posted on Storm Report SA’s Facebook page.

Sent in by Sybrand [surname not given on the page], this video is said to have been taken in Carnarvon in the Northern Cape.

The Vox Weather girls show snowfall in Sutherland, Northern Cape. Photo: Vox Weather/Facebook.

In its travellers’ forecast for today, SAWS said: “Very cold, wet and windy conditions with snowfalls are expected over the southern high-lying areas of the Namakwa District and southern high ground of the Northern Cape, the central and eastern interior of the Western Cape, the northern high ground of the Eastern Cape, and the central and southern parts of the Free State until Tuesday.”

Read original story on www.citizen.co.za

June 3, 2024
Caxton Reporter 3 minutes read
 
Back to top button