After a streak of beautiful sunny days, Newcastillians must brace themselves for a dramatic shift, as fierce thunderstorms are set to hit several towns in KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday, 9 October 2024.
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has raised the alarm, issuing a severe weather warning that forecasts powerful thunderstorms starting from 12 pm and lasting until 7 pm.
As clouds gather, the following towns are in the path of these potentially devastating storms:
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Estcourt
- Dannhauser
- Paulpietersburg
- Utrecht
- Dundee
- Vryheid
- Indaka
- Mooi River
- Msinga
- Nkandla
- Nquthu
- ·Ulundi
- Pietermaritzburg
- Howick
Furthermore, SAWS is not holding back on its warnings, cautioning residents of these towns to be prepared for possible risks as a result of the weather.
The thunderstorms are expected to hit hard, bringing with them the following risks:
- Localised damage to homes, infrastructure, vehicles, and even livestock.
- A heightened threat of injury, or worse, due to dangerous lightning strikes.
- Electrical disruptions and power surges from the overwhelming lightning activity.
This dramatic weather comes after a period of calm and warmth, but now, the skies are poised to unleash a storm that could bring serious challenges. Therefore, Newcastillians are urged to protect themselves and be ready for a volatile day as severe thunderstorms loom.
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