The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs has announced that disaster management teams are on high alert as severe thunderstorms and damaging winds are expected in the province.
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) issued multiple impact-based warnings for the weekend due to a well-defined upper-air system, known as a cut-off low, anticipated to traverse the western regions of the country. This system is expected to exit South Africa by Tuesday, October 29.
Severe thunderstorms, which may lead to hail, damaging winds, and heavy rainfall, are forecasted for the northeastern parts of KwaZulu-Natal, eastern areas of Mpumalanga, and central and southeastern regions of Limpopo.
These storms pose a risk of localized flooding, especially in low-lying regions, while strong winds may result in property and infrastructure damage.
Senzelwe Mzila, spokesperson for KZN Cogta, urged residents to take precautions to ensure their safety and protect their belongings. Recommendations include avoiding flooded roads and bridges, securing loose items that could be displaced by the wind, and remaining indoors during the storm whenever possible.
Furthermore, SAWS indicated that the cut-off low will bring strong to near gale-force winds, ranging from 55 to 65 km/h, over the Cape provinces, and fresh to strong winds of 30 to 50 km/h across North West, Gauteng, the Free State, and western KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday, October 27, with winds subsiding by Monday, October 28.
These conditions may damage both informal and formal settlements, create hazardous driving conditions affecting transport routes such as the N1 and N3, and pose challenges for high-sided vehicles due to wind, falling trees, and possibly blowing sand and dust.