The South African Weather Service wishes to advise disaster management structures that there is a high likelihood of widespread heavy rains over North West, Gauteng, northern Free State, KwaZuluNatal, Limpopo and Mpumalanga from late Friday 18 January 2013 to Sunday, 20 January 2013.
These heavy rains will be caused by an intense low pressure moving in from Botswana. As consequence of heavy rains, the river and stream systems will begin flowing strongly. The danger of flash-flooding should be kept in mind. There have already been heavy rains experienced over parts of Mpumalanga and Limpopo earlier this week and rivers in these areas are running high. These two provinces run the highest risk for flooding this weekend.
Here below are the stations which have measured the highest rain in the past 72hours (ending at 08:00 this morning):
- Graskop=216mm
- Nelspruit=73mm
- Hoedspruit=49mm
- Mara=54mm
- Tzaneen=166mm
- Phalaborwa=112mm
- Thohoyandou=154mm
It should also be noted that several stations over southern Zimbabwe also measured heavy rains.
The public are therefore urged not to try to cross rivers and streams that are in flood, irrespective of whether they are on foot or in a vehicle. Settlements close to rivers or within flood plains must also monitored in case of the rising water levels.
These heavy rains are also likely to have serious impact on the opening day of the AFCON football tournament starting on Saturday at the National Stadium in Johannesburg. The neighbouring countries of Botswana, Zimbabwe, Swaziland and southern Mozambique will also be affected by these adverse weather conditions.