KZN storms: Peak times, worst-hit areas and total forecast rainfall for Thursday

Batten down the hatches if you’re in the east of the country. Limpopo and Mpumalanga are facing severe weather watches, but the KZN storms are still the main concern for forecasters on Thursday. The province which has seen floods, torrential downpours and even a tornado this week has one more hurdle to overcome.

A final barrage of bad weather is set to hit most of KZN later this evening. The predictions have spooked local education authorities, who are sending school children home early in preperation for the adverse conditions. Thunderstorms are set to rock the East Coast within a matter of hours.

So, if you need to stay prepared, we’ve got a few things for you to consider:

KZN storms forecast for Thursday – what you need to know:

Durban: Peak times for KZN storms

From what we can tell, 17:00 is going to be when the first truly torrential downpour of the day strikes the province. Areas near Pietermaritzburg and the south of KZN could get 10mm in little under an hour. Although this is lower than an earlier forecast from this week, the ground is absolutely saturated from the past few days.

With continued storms set to batter the East Coast even more over the next 36 hours or so, landslides and further floods are a distinct possibility. Coastal regions can expect a resurgence of these conditions on Friday morning – just after 8:00 – before a calmer forecast comes into play from midday onwards.

KZN storms: Forecast for the worst-affected areas

Richard’s Bay, St. Lucia and northern regions of KZN look like they are in for the worst time. Around 40-50mm could fall here within a matter of hours. Again, coastal regions – including the eThekwini Municipality – are exposed to the elements, and the swirling winds could exacerbate the poor conditions.

How much rain will fall on Thursday?

The forecast has eased ever so slightly for KZN, but many regions are facing a dangerous time of it. Rain on top of rain is always a red flag for SAWS, and the following regions are set for a soaking on Thursday:

• Durban: 20 – 30mm
• Richards’s Bay: 40 – 50mm
• Pietermaritzburg: 15 – 25mm
• Newcastle and Vryheid: 10 – 20mm
• Dundee: 25 – 35mm