Centre of downgraded storm expected to hit Pafuri in Kruger later

The South African Weather Service says tropical storm Dineo is weaker than forecasters predicted and has now been downgraded to the status of ‘tropical depression ex-Dineo’, however, residents in parts of South Africa can still expect flooding and heavy rains, reports the Lowvelder.

The strong winds have died down from 120 kilometres per hour, to 80 kilometres per hour in Mozambique.

The storm, which has been building along the east coast of Southern Africa, made landfall in Mozambique on Wednesday night, battering two coastal towns with winds of up to 160 kilometres per hour, with roofs blown off houses and electrical pylons toppled in Inhambane, 500 kilometres north of Maputo.

ALSO READ: VIDEOS: Cyclone Dineo uproots trees, roofs in Mozambique

As Dineo has been downgraded to a tropical depression, there is not any talk of the so-called eye of the storm anymore. Weather forecaster Wayne Venter of the South African Weather Services (SAWS), however, said he is expecting the centre of the storm to hit Pafuri area of the Kruger National Park (KNP) on Thursday afternoon.

“We expect the rivers in the north, like the Luvhuvhu and Limpopo rivers, to be swollen and this might lead to localised flooding. Lots of rainfall is expected in this area of the KNP. There will be strong winds, but we don’t expect them to be damaging. We must however warn that because of the heavy rainfall, there can be floods,” said Venter.

A spokesperson for the Mpumalanga Disaster Management Team said their teams were ready to help the KNP disaster management team when the northern area of the park is in the grip of the storm. He expects this to happen within the next eight to 12 hours in areas like Shingwedzi, Pafuri and Orpen.

“There are chances that there will be localised flooding. All KNP resources are ready to cope with the storm. They are on high alert and can do evacuations if necessary. They are very well-prepared. We are also on standby to go in and help the teams on the ground.”

Deon de Kock, a visitor in Punda Maria close to the border with Mozambique, said on Wednesday morning it was “raining a little bit. They have closed all the gravel roads here and it is difficult to communicate with Mozambique if you need to cross the border,” he said. He guessed that there might be about 15 or so units full of guests at present.

Other reports from KNP visitors are that Satara is overcast, Skukuza had soft rain for about three hours on Wednesday morning and in Olifants Camp there were hectic winds.

– Caxton News Service

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