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With multiple warnings of flooding on Friday, motorists have been urged to take precautions.
A minibus taxi stuck in a flood on the N2 M19 Umgeni intersection. Picture: ALS Paramedics.
Several parts of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) have been flooded after heavy downpours in the province.
This comes after the South African Weather Service (Saws) warned of severe thunderstorms resulting in heavy downpours and possible flooding in parts of the Free State, KZN, Mpumalanga, Gauteng and North West on Thursday.
Very cold weather and possible snow were also forecast for the central and western parts of KZN.
ALS Paramedics spokesperson Garrith Jamieson said they had received several reports of localised flooding.
“This would include large water puddles that have formed all over Durban. The hotspots being the M19 Umgeni Road under the N2 bridge, North Coast Road near Mimosa Road.
“We’ve had reports of the M4 by Riverside severely waterlogged and other common spots,” Jamieson said.
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With multiple warnings of flooding on Friday, Jamieson urged motorists to be cautious in this wet weather.
“Please ensure your vehicle is in good condition, that you drive with your headlights on to make yourself visible and you leave a little earlier to accommodate the weather.
“With regards to flooding at homes, we urge people to please monitor low-lying houses and be careful. Should any water enter your house and you suspect flooding to occur, leave the house before it’s too late.
“Please be aware of your surroundings, for example, like a sand bank that may collapse onto your house,” Jamieson said.
On Thursday, the weather service warned of more severe thunderstorms, which could result in heavy downpours and possible flooding in parts of the Free State, North West, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, and KZN.
Very cold weather and possible snow have also been forecast over the south-western high grounds of KZN.
Saws issued a yellow level 4 warning for severe thunderstorms, resulting in heavy downpours that led to localised flooding of roads and bridges, large amounts of small hail and excessive lightning in the extreme south-central parts of Limpopo and the northern parts of Gauteng and Mpumalanga Highveld, as well as over the north and northeastern parts of KZN.
Residents of KwaZulu-Natal can expect cloudy and cool to cold weather with widespread showers and thundershowers. Light snow is possible in the south-western high grounds.
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