We are in for bad weather throughout South Africa, and this is everything you need to know to get through the cold weekend.
South Africa (19 May 2022) – It is going to be a cold and very wet weekend with warnings of flood in the KZN. We can do little about the weather other than prepare for it.
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued several warnings to various provinces, with most predicting rain and maybe even snow.
With KZN still being quite saturated, any rainfall above 20mm could lead to localised flooding.
“Due to the pre-existing condition of water-saturated soils in parts of KwaZulu-Natal, rainfall amounts exceeding 20 mm are likely to lead to localised flooding. It is therefore important for communities to take the necessary precautions to prepare for such conditions.”
As per the latest statement, below is what each province can expect over the coming days.
“A steep upper-air trough system will develop into a cut-off low pressure system over the north-western interior of the country by Friday, 20 May 2022. Widespread rainfall can be expected over the southern and central parts of the country from Thursday onwards, with light snowfalls likely over the mountainous, high-lying areas of the Western and Eastern Cape, spreading to the Lesotho Drakensberg regions by the weekend, where heavier falls are anticipated.
Light snowfalls can also be expected over the high-lying ground of south-eastern and eastern Free State. 24-hour rainfall accumulations of 25 to 35 mm can also be expected over the drought-stricken parts of the Eastern Cape. Moreover, there is also the possibility of isolated severe storms, accompanied by strong winds and large amounts of small hail over the central and eastern interior, however the South African Weather Service (SAWS) will issue detailed radar-based warnings in this regard, should the need arise.”
The best place to get these updates should you need, is the SAWS Twitter account. They share all the graphs and satellite images as they happen.
đ§ď¸A cold front and a cut-off low is expected to affect the country this weekend. Starting in the west today (19 May 2022), spreading to the central parts by tomorrow (Friday) and the eastern parts by Saturday. pic.twitter.com/aZN3ndmrLr
â SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) May 19, 2022
The weather warning means we need to be prepared for anything. The below advice can be applied to most storm situations; it always helps to be a little prepared. If you want to lend a helping hand to others during this time, we recently shared a helpful article about giving back during winter that you can read here.
Storm Prep 101:
- Secure all outdoor furniture, dustbins and items that could potentially move around and cause damage during strong winds. If you have a childâs jungle gym, cable tie the swings to the pillars to avoid them swinging around and becoming damaged as well.
- Check all gutters and drains, clearing anything that could potentially block them and cause your garden to flood.
- Stay at home if the weather could cause a danger on the roads.
- Keep torches and extra batteries in case of a power outage, and should you be using gas or candles, ensure the room is ventilated and candles are kept in glass containers to avoid fires.
- Charge all mobile devices and have emergency numbers on hand (see the list below)
- Store enough water for every family member and animal.
- Do not leave your animals outside (we cannot stress this enough, if you are scared, they will be too!) Allocate a safe enclosed space for your pets and comfort them as needed.
- If you really want to go full blown âDoomsday Preppersâ, you can have non-perishable food on hand that is easy to cook using gas.
- Check that your first-aid kit is filled with the essentials and within its expiration date.
- If anything should happen, do not panic. Stay calm and think clearly.
- If you find yourself trapped in a flooding car, abandon the car and get to safety; the same applies to any building you may be sheltering in.
Helpful Emergency Numbers (SA):
- Nationwide Emergency Response â 10111. This number will take you to a call centre which will assist with any emergency at hand and direct the appropriate response team. This number is free from landlines, but regular rates are charged from cellphones.
- Cellphone Emergency Number â 112. This number will direct you to an automated menu in which you then select your required need. This number allows cellphones without airtime to get assistance.
- Ambulance Response â 10177. This will help in medical emergencies. When making the call, state the emergency plus details of the person(s) injured, exact location (include any landmarks) and your personal details as clearly as possible. This number is also the same for the Fire Brigade.
Stay safe out there, and remember to pass this along to everyone you know because you never know when it may be needed.
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