By Lebone Rodah Mosima
KwaZulu-Natal’s disaster management teams have been placed on high alert ahead of severe thunderstorms forecast for Sunday, as the province braces for flooding risks after weeks of oppressive heat that has pushed temperatures into the high 30s in some areas.
MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) in the province, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, placed the teams on high alert following an urgent weather outlook issued by the South African Weather Service (SAWS), CoGTA said on Saturday.
It said the province faces “a dual threat, with a Level 5 Severe Thunderstorm Warning for western and southern regions and a Level 2 Warning for the remainder of the province”.
The most at-risk districts include uMgungundlovu, uThukela, Amajuba, uMzinyathi, Harry Gwala and Ugu.
The rest of KwaZulu-Natal — including eThekwini, iLembe, King Cetshwayo and Zululand — is also under a Level 2 warning, it said, with “the risk of localised flooding and lightning strikes” still possible.
The storm threat comes as KwaZulu-Natal has endured a prolonged spell of extreme heat over the past two weeks.
Pietermaritzburg and Mtunzini have recorded temperatures as high as 39°C.
On Friday, ALS Paramedics in Durban said they responded to multiple patients who collapsed amid high humidity.
Cogta urged residents to take precautions ahead of Sunday’s storms. “Residents are urged to take necessary safety measures to safeguard themselves and their families”.
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