As thunder rumbles in the afternoon sky, dark clouds roll into NKZN, bringing with them a break in the day’s heat. However, the South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a warning along with CoGTA. Therefore, be sure to ask your employer if you can get out a bit early to miss the bad weather. According to Accu Weather, 70% precipitation is expected in Newcastle, KZN, by five o’clock.
According to SAWS, severe thunderstorms over the western parts and midlands of KwaZulu-Natal can expect severe storms. Therefore the weather service and CoGTA issued a yellow Level 2 warning to the following areas:
- Amajuba District
- uMzinyathi District
- uThukela District
- Harry Gwala District
- uMgungundlovu District
- Zululand District Municipality
- King Cetshwayo
What does a Yellow Level 2 weather warning mean?
- Heavy downpours can result in localised flooding of roads and low-lying bridges.
- Excessive lightening. This can result in localised fire incidents and injuries to humans and livestock.
- Minor motor vehicle accidents and increased travel times due to poor driving conditions.
- Damaging winds.
- Localised damage to settlements and infrastructure over open areas.
As the weather begins to deteriorate, CoGTA MEC Sipho Hlomuka has commended disaster management teams across the province for their prompt response to the incidents that have afflicted large portions of KwaZulu-Natal since 15 December 2021.
Disaster management teams are still busy assessing the extent of damage in municipalities where inclement weather caused 205 incidents. This includes strong winds, lightning strikes, structural fires, heavy rains, structural collapse and drownings.
So far, 10 900 people have been affected from 2068 KZN households. Sadly, seven hundred of these homes were completely destroyed. The damage is currently estimated to be around R3.2 billion.
According to CoGTA, there were 18 drownings, six lightning strikes, and one missing person. This figure is expected to rise due to the severe thunderstorms that hit the province over the weekend. Disaster management teams are still working with other government agencies to consolidate this information.
The department has activated disaster operations centres in all district municipalities, which will report to the Joint Operations Committee (Joc) to monitor and coordinate necessary interventions and support.
Currently, the affected municipalities are being asked to submit reports on the extent of the damage. This is done so that the Provincial Disaster Management Centre can determine appropriate remedies to provide additional assistance. CoGTA has distributed relief supplies to districts, which will intern supply the affected local municipalities.
In addition, the department continues to collaborate with non-governmental organisations to provide relief to affected communities.
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