The Klein Karoo Oudtshoorn received some much-needed relief over the weekend when torrential rains saw their dam levels rise.
Klein Karoo, South Africa (20 January 2020) – On the 15th of January, the Oudtshoorn Municipality issued a warning that their water levels were very low. They encouraged citizens to be water-wise. Then two days later a massive storm blew in, the sky opened up and the rain just kept coming.
The Karoo and Klein Karoo are just some of the parts of South Africa that have been hit hardest by the unrelenting drought. The wave of rains is bringing some relief to the communities that have spent the last few years without much of any.
The Oudtshoorn Municipality took to Twitter to share videos and pictures of the rain and how some areas are over-flowing. The municipality rejoiced at video footage of the overflow running from the Melville dam into Raubenheimer dam in Oudtshoorn.
The Raubenheimer dam was down to 40.64% and then 39% between the 8th and 15th of January. That has changed thanks to the latest rainfall. The Municipal Technical Department recorded rainfall of about 55mm.
“The dam level at that stage has risen from 39.7% on Friday to just over 43% and water is still flowing in strongly into the dam,” said Chris Swart, senior manager for water and sewer.
This is excellent news for the community. The rain is a blessing but residents and visitors should continue to be water-wise and use water respectfully. Take a look at the images and videos the municipality and other people shared.
Oudtshoorn has this weekend, since Friday received rain measured at 50mm.
The following Streets have been temporarily closed due to the water flowing through Grobblers River (which cuts across these streets): van der Riet Street, Church Street, Albert Street & Rademeyr Street.
— Oudtshoorn Municipal (@Oudtmun) January 19, 2020
Lovely to see flowing water in the Grobbelaars river after welcome rains in the very dry Kango Valley outside Oudtshoorn! @Oudtmun @ccavesestate @ReenvalSA pic.twitter.com/bHyEk0kgwO
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) January 19, 2020
Safety from Lightning… “When it roars..Go Indoors!!” https://t.co/ND9zkDWN8R #ArriveAlive @ccavesestate @Oudtmun @ReenvalSA @sawx_sa_weather pic.twitter.com/v6koD6aQ7T
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) January 19, 2020
An awesome sight as the water flows near the Swartberg mountains at @ccavesestate outside Oudtshoorn @ReenvalSA @Oudtmun @SAWeatherServic pic.twitter.com/q1LS1vnbNx
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) January 19, 2020
KOOS RAUBENHEIMER DAM RISES AFTER TORRENTIAL RAIN IN OIDTSHOORN
The Municipal Technical Department recorded rainfall of about 55mm at at the Raubenheimer dam’s catchment area.
This follows torrential rains Oudtshoorn received this weekend since Friday. @_ArriveAlive pic.twitter.com/9lFoCfHC7Z
— Oudtshoorn Municipal (@Oudtmun) January 19, 2020
Overflow from Melville dam into Raubenheimer dam in Oudtshoorn @_ArriveAlive @ReenvalSA @SAWeatherServic @SABCNewsOnline @ewnreporter pic.twitter.com/pFs1m8UZKs
— Oudtshoorn Municipal (@Oudtmun) January 19, 2020
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