Storms across KZN on Sunday night leave several areas in darkness, more rain expected

File Picture: Shelley Kjonstad/African News Agency (ANA)

File Picture: Shelley Kjonstad/African News Agency (ANA)

Published Apr 10, 2023

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Durban - Inclement weather on Sunday night in KwaZulu-Natal resulted in several areas losing power supply in the province according to Eskom.

Provincial Eskom spokesperson, Joyce Zingoni, said Eskom lost supply to several areas around KZN due to heavy rains and strong winds that swept through the province last night.

Zingoni said areas mostly affected included the Northern and Southern parts of KZN as well as the Midlands.

“Technicians have been deployed, but restoration may take longer than usual due to access problems. We urge affected customers to treat all electrical installations as live while plans to restore electricity supply are currently being implemented,” she said.

Speaking to The Mercury on Monday morning, KZN Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs(Cogta) spokesperson Senzo Mzila, said the department had not yet received any reports from its teams about the impact of Sunday’s storms.

The South African Weather Service(Saws) has issued a Yellow level 2 weather warning for severe thunderstorms resulting in heavy downpours that could lead to localised flooding. Hail and strong damaging winds are expected over the northern parts of KZN on Monday.

A Saws forecast predicted that areas across the province would experience cloudy conditions with afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms.

Durban, Richards Bay, Margate, Pietermaritzburg, Newcastle and Underberg can expect cloudy conditions at first with showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening.

The Road Traffic Management Corporation(RTMC) reminded motorists to exercise restraint on the roads as the long Easter weekend comes to an end.

“The Road Traffic Management Corporation would like to remind motorists to resist the temptation to break the rules of the road as they return from holidays and religious pilgrimages at the end of the Easter holidays.

“Traffic volumes on national roads are expected to reach a peak tomorrow (Monday, April 10, 2023). Law enforcement officers will continue to closely monitor traffic in an effort to deal with lawlessness and reduce the number of crashes,” said RTMC.