Level 2 weather warning issued for Friday

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a yellow level 2 warning for disruptive rainfall for today, 5 February.

This could lead to localized flooding of susceptible roads and already vulnerable low lying areas and bridges as well as poor driving conditions.

The warning is issued for the following areas:

• Gauteng
• Eastern parts of the North West
• Parts of Mpumalanga
• Central and southern parts of Limpopo.

The following graphic explains the warning levels issued by the South African Weather Service:

Managing director of MasterDrive, Eugene Herbert, provides some tips on driving in this weather: 

• Adjust your speed to suit the conditions, however, do not slow down unnecessarily as this is just as dangerous.
• Don’t brake harshly and suddenly, especially if you feel yourself start to skid.
• Keep both hands on the steering wheel throughout the trip.
• If you have not done so already, check your wiper blades to ensure that they have not weathered over winter.
• Give yourself more travel time so you do not have to rush in bad weather.
• Do not use cruise control.
• Turn on your headlights.
• Brake sooner and with more caution.
• Avoid water that has pooled on the roads. If you cannot avoid this, drive through it slowly in case there is hidden debris or potholes.
• Leave a longer following distance.
• Driving recklessly and speeding increases your chances of hydroplaning. If you hydroplane, slowly lift your foot from the accelerator, but do not brake harshly or move your steering wheel violently.
• If you start to skid, look where you want to be. While this may seem counter-intuitive, our instinct is to steer in the direction that we are looking. Thus, if there is a tree in front of you, do not look at the tree – rather look at where you want to be.
• Consider going for driver training on a skidpan before the rainy season starts in earnest to learn how to react if you do lose control during rainy weather.