WHILE most areas of the greater Zululand coast were battered by rain squalls, high winds, hail and low temperatures over the past week, inland dams and rivers remain parched and critically low.
Snow on the northern Drakensberg last week and as late as Tuesday this week, caused icy winds across the coast, and patches of heavy rain saw local farmers eagerly monitoring their rain gauges.
In Melmoth, which was covered in a blanket of weekend-fog, the temperature hit a chilly low of 11 degrees, and the farming town was hit by a hail storm on Saturday.
Heavens opened
Just outside Empangeni, farmer Fred Lubbe recorded 71mm of rainfall between Friday last week and the past Wednesday morning, while 10mm fell in Richards Bay on Tuesday alone.
Felixton surrounds recorded around 65mm over the week, while Melmoth farmers recorded around 45mm.
The heavens opened over Mtunzini on Saturday evening, leaving roads and causeways flooded.
There was relief for flora and fauna within the iSimangaliso Wetland Park on Saturday, with 71mm recorded within the St Lucia Estuary, 40mm on the Eastern Shores, and 21mm on the Western Shores.
Charter’s Creek was also battered by hail on Saturday evening, and 45mm of rain followed swiftly. But the news is not all good. Catchment areas inland remain dry and dam levels continue to fall.
The SA Weather Service reported on Wednesday that in the past ten days inland regions and dam catchment areas in KZN, Limpopo and Gauteng have received no rainfall.
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