#DurbanStorm: Record rainfall for Durban

Published Oct 11, 2017

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Durban - The massive storm which hit Durban on Tuesday registered the highest daily rainfall figures for South Durban since records began.

At least eight people died and more are missing as the storm and strong winds flooded roads, flattened buildings and played havoc in the port. Some of the worst affected areas include the Bluff, Jacobs, Montclair, Glenwood, Umlazi, Merebank and Isipingo.

The South African Weather Service said that it's Merebank station at the old airport site recorded 108mm yesterday. The previous record was 105mm in a 24-hour period which fell on the October 30, 1985.

The 108mm represents approximately one tenth the average annual rainfall for the province which fell over a period of six to eight hours. Other rainfall recorded in the greater Durban area showed 58mm at King Shaka International Airport, 69mm at Mount Edgecombe and 17mm at Nagle Dam.

Traffic chaos on the N2 near the old airport on Tuesday. Record rainfall of 108mm was recorded.

In the interior a new rainfall record was set at Ixopo where 58mm fell. The previous highest daily rainfall was 38.6mm on October 28, 2014. Kokstad recorded 36mm and it's lowest maximum daily temperature of 8.5 degrees Celcius. At Emerald Dale 32mm fell, while Pietermaritzburg had 15mm and Oribi airport 16mm. Cedara recorded 14mm.

On the KZN South Coast which was also heavily hit with a number of bridges under water and roads washed away, Margate registered 51mm, Paddock (outside Port Shepstone) 81mm, Pennington South 68mm and Port Edward 25mm.

The Weather service said the forecast looked more promising for the week ahead, although another cold front was expected to hit Friday. Temperatures in Durban are expected to be a cool 16 degrees Celcius with a maximum of 18 degrees celcius. There is also a 30 percent chance of rain on Thursday evening and Friday morning. it will brighten up over the weekend with Sunday expected to be a sunny 18 degrees to 28 degrees.

The Independent on Saturday

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