WATCH: N2 near Hluhluwe virtually impassable amid widespread flooding
King Cetshwayo and uMkhanyakude districts flooding as SA Weather Service issues level 9 warning for severe rainfall
ZULULANDERS have endured a wet weekend so far, with reports of widespread flooding, including a virtually impassable N2 just south of Hluhluwe.
For uMkhanyakude District, the severe rainfall began on Friday, with the Mkhuze river in full flood and the N2 near Pongola having to be closed overnight owing to a mudslide that occurred earlier in the day.
Sodwana residents recorded over 500mm of rain since Tuesday, while Meerensee in Richards Bay has measured over 90mm since 4pm today (Saturday).
ALSO READ: WATCH: Heavy rains cause flooding in uMkhanyakude
The uMhlathuze Central Sport Complex in Veldenvlei recorded 57.3mm as at 6pm today, and a total of 93.9mm since Tuesday.
All this as the cut-off low pressure system brought a deluge to the Lowveld region, causing the Crocodile and Komatie rivers to burst their banks.
According to the Severe Weather and Information Centre SA (SWAICSA) Facebook page, apart from the cut-off low over the country’s interior, there is a tropical depression situated over the east coast of southern Mozambique.
While this is neither a tropical storm nor cyclone, it is associated with heavy rainfall.
The SA Weather Service (SAWS) earlier today issued an orange level 9 warning for heavy rainfall for the northern KZN coastal region, including King Cetshwayo and uMkhanyakude districts, and a level 5 rainfall warning for inland regions, as well as Ilembe District and eThekwini Metro.
The warnings are in place from 6pm until 10pm today.
“A tropical low along the coast of KZN will result in further heavy rainfall this evening until tomorrow morning,” said SAWS.
“Widespread flooding can be expected over the northern interior of KZN and the coast and adjacent interior, with severe impacts possible along the northern coastline this evening into tomorrow morning.”
SAWS said potential impacts include widespread flooding of settlements and roads, with damage to property and infrastructure; disruption to traffic flow due to major roads being flooded or closed; communities may be cut-off, and danger to life owing to fast and deep-flowing water.
Communities are reminded to not attempt to cross low-level bridges or roads, or swollen rivers.
