Steady rain welcomed

HEAVY rains have fallen throughout Zululand this week, and the King Cetshwayo District Municipality Disaster Management team is on high alert.

Communities can contact the disaster hotline should they experience flooding or damage to homes caused by the heavy rains.

A municipal spokesman said residents must report incidents immediately, to minimise reaction time.

Residents can call the district the communications centre on 086 1003473 to report any incidents in the uMfolozi, Mthonjaneni and Nkandla municipal areas.

The direct line for uMhlathuze is 035 7973911 and for uMlalazi Municipality it is 035 4507691.

Dam levels

As at Monday morning, despite the good rains, there was no change in the level of the Goedertrouw Dam over last week.

The level stood at 27.44% of its full storage capacity.

There was a half percent slight improvement on the Hluhluwe Dam and its level is now 25.9%.

Klipfontein Dam on the White Mfolozi River has benefitted from up-country rain and now stands at 37.8% compared to 35.5% last week.

The largest dam in the region, Pongolapoort, has shown an increase of 0.2 % and is now 37.9% of its full storage capacity.

iSimangaliso rains

It has been a wet week in much of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park as gentle rain fell in the park.

Rainfall figures received for the 48 hours ending on Tuesday morning were 45mm for the St Lucia Estuary, 28mm for Western Shores and 38.8mm for False Bay.

Rain continued falling intermittently at Sodwana Bay, Kosi Bay and uMkhuze on Wednesday.

Rivers throughout the Park are flowing strongly.

Other areas

Rainfall figures recorded by stations reporting to the SA Sugar Research Institute by 2pm on Wednesday are as follows. Wednesday’s rainfall from midnight to 2pm, Tuesday’s rainfall, followed by last week and February’s rain in brackets, all in mm.

Pongola – 4.3 (18; 92.2; 133.1)

Makhathini – 2.6 (7.9; 75.1; 82.4)

Mkuze – (Mkhuze Estate) – 4.1 (12.7; 75.9; 83.8)

Nyalazi – 58 (17.6; 122.2; 128)

Dukuduku – 34.4 (31.4; 179.6; 199.8)

Monzi – 34.7 (44.5; 143.8; 156.4)

KwaMbonambi – 25.4 (83; 175; 207.2)

Empangeni – 85.2 (72.7; 194.7; 221.8)

Entumeni – 24.6 (65; 148.8; 191)

Melmoth (Imfuluzane) – 15.6 (44.8; 104; 115.8)

Melmoth (McMurrays) – 11.8 (39.8; 83.4; 98)

Melmoth (Merino Farm) – 32.8 (52.6; 156.2; 177.8)

eShowe (Woodgarth) – 42.2 (76.2; 187.2; 229.1)

Gingindlovu – 59.7 (79; 188; 231.4)

Port Durnford – 54 (96.4; 202.4; 348.4)

Kearsney – 37.8 (63.2; 138.4; 237.3)

Upper Tongaat – 36.3 (48.8; 127.8; 215.9)

Rainfall for the 24 hours preceding 8am on Wednesday measured by other weather stations were Richards Bay (141.4), Felixton (101.5) and Mevamhlope (70).

HAVE YOUR SAY

Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.

For news straight to your phone invite us:

WhatsApp – 072 069 4169

Instagram – zululand_observer