Good rains not enough
The heavy rain did little to alter the drought situation in Zululand.
WHILE the heavy rains of the past few days have given temporary relief – some farms recording 100mm in a single deluge – they have done little to alter the drought situation and far more precipitation is needed.
Many parts of Zululand reported between 60mm and 80mm but one Meerensee resident measured 170mm by Sunday, while 146mm was recorded at a home in Arboretum.
Best rains were along the coastal belt, with inland farms at eShowe and Gingindlovu receiving little over 35mm.
‘This is very good, but we are still having the driest year since 1990 and we are not expecting more heavy rains until the end of January,’ said Tony Roberts of the Zululand Fire Protection Association.
‘We are in fact going to extend the fire season into the second week of November. Already we have had 562 fires this year.’
Two Mseleni women were injured on Thursday night when their houses were reportedly struck by lightning as strong winds, heavy rain and at times hail pounded the region for three days.
This led to some power outages, a number of road accidents, the temporary closure of the Port of Richards Bay and the delay and diversion of some flights.
There was some localised flooding, particularly at houses near the uMzingwena River at eSikhaleni but damage was not widespread.
