Newcastillians are urged to prepare for disruptive rainfall beginning on Monday, 6 January 2025, with further inclement weather expected to potentially persist throughout the week.
According to the South African Weather Service (SAWS), the forecast weather conditions are anticipated to lead to the flooding of roads, bridges, and settlements, posing a significant risk to infrastructure and property.
Additionally, motorists should anticipate hazardous driving conditions, with the possibility of traffic disruptions if roads and bridges are closed due to flooding.
As per the South African Weather Service, the following towns are expected to be impacted by the disruptive rainfall:
- Newcastle
- Utrecht
- Dundee
- Kokstad
- Vryheid
- Jozini
- Giants Castle
- Msinga
- Ndwedwe
- Nkandla
- Nongoma
- Nquthu
- Pietermaritzburg
- Ulundi
The South African Weather Service has further alerted the public that the heavy, disruptive rainfall is expected to affect large parts of the country, continuing until Wednesday, 8 January 2025. KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, the Free State, and North West are expected to be the most severely impacted regions.
Furthermore, the weather service predicts a significant increase in rainfall accumulation, with totals expected to range between 50 and 70 mm. This may result in widespread road flooding, slippery surfaces, and the possibility of extensive flash flooding.
“The use of vehicle headlights, while driving at a reasonably low speed, will be useful during the showery conditions. Motorists should ensure clear windscreens, as traffic and road markings could be difficult to see during the occurrence of heavy rain, even for vehicles with properly working wipers, in some instances. Further, it is inevitable that some low-water bridges could overflow, with powerful water currents that could sweep away vehicles and lead to loss of lives and property. It is strongly advised that motorists do not enter flooded low-water bridges or roads,” said the South African Weather Service.
Additionally, the weather service explained that summer thundershowers, which are typically confined to the afternoon and early evening, may occur at any time of the day due to the continuous flow of warm, moist air (tropical moisture) from countries to the north.
According to the weather service, this means that ordinary or even heavy showers could strike at any time, including between 6 pm in the evening and 1 am in the early morning. Adding to this, the Road Traffic Management Centre (RTMC) has emphasised that these are the critical hours when road users should avoid driving if possible.
Given the potential impacts of the disruptive rainfall expected during the course of Monday and with the inclement weather forecast to continue until Wednesday, the South African Weather Service has urged the public to stay updated on weather conditions and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety.
