Durban — The disaster-prone KwaZulu-Natal weathered yet more inclement weather as a level 4 warning swept through the province on Monday, leaving officials and residents on high alert.
Authorities remained on high alert, prepared for any developments, but by 5pm there were no significant incidents confirmed.
Although the South African Weather Service (Saws) had forecast torrential rains across the coastal areas of Ugu, Ilembe, eThekwini metro, and King Cetshwayo district, most parts of the province enjoyed clear skies.
Richards Bay was the only exception, with rain predicted to hit on Tuesday (today).
Reports of hail were confirmed in Pietermaritzburg’s Scottsville and Hilton areas, but no property damage was recorded, ensuring a sigh of relief for the residents.
The caution was particularly warranted as KZN was still reeling from a snowstorm that struck last week, leading to two fatalities and several hospitalisations of those trapped on the snow-covered N3 freeway.
Throughout the day on Monday, local emergency services were fully mobilised, with teams strategically positioned in various areas to counter any disruption and respond to any incidents.
The government urged residents to avoid any unnecessary travel and stay indoors until the bad weather passed.
Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, emphasised the importance of vigilance.
“While the warning indicates that the impact of the disruptive rain may be confined to low-lying areas, residents are advised to monitor weather updates, especially before undertaking long journeys,” he said.
The National Sea Rescue Institute noted the potential threats posed by continued unpredictable weather patterns.
“Snow and rain, forecast by Saws in places, may cause inland waterways, rivers, lakes, and dams to pose dangers to road users, hikers, bathers, and paddlers,” the statement read.
Despite the relative calm on Monday, authorities were leaving nothing to chance.
The province was still on guard, relying on frequent updates from Saws and vigilant monitoring by residents to navigate through this phase of unpredictable weather cautiously.
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Daily News