Residents of KwaZulu-Natal are being urged to brace for extreme weather conditions as the South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued an Orange Level 4 and an Orange Level 5 Warning for severe, disruptive rainfall across the province, effective immediately on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
These warnings signal significant impacts from heavy rainfall, with anticipated accumulations of 50-80mm across most regions, sparing only the northeast. A cold front is also expected to usher in chilly temperatures and potential snowfall, prompting authorities to mobilize emergency response teams.
The severe weather is driven by a potent combination of a surface high-pressure system over eastern KwaZulu-Natal, a deepening upper air trough, and an intensifying low-pressure system along the east coast. While the northeast may experience scattered showers, other areas face continuous downpours, posing threats to infrastructure, transportation, and public safety.
According to the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (KZN CoGTA), the Orange Level 5 Warning will affect the following areas:
- eThekwini
- KwaDukuza (formerly Stanger)
- Ballito
- Mandeni
- Maphumulo
- Ndwedwe
- Darnall
- Zinkwazi
- Tugela Mouth
- Pietermaritzburg
- Howick
- Hilton
- Impendle
- New Hanover
- Wartburg
- Dalton
- Swayimane
- Mpolweni
- Camperdown
- Richmond
- Mooi River
- Port Shepstone
- Margate
- Harding
- Hibberdene
- Pennington
- Scottburgh
- Umzinto
- Port Edward
- Ixopo
- Kokstad
- Umzimkhulu
- Underberg
- Himeville
- Creighton
- Franklin
- Donnybrook
- Bulwer
Meanwhile, the Orange Level 4 Warning applies to the following areas:
- Newcastle
- Utrecht
- Dannhauser
- Ladysmith
- Estcourt
- Bergville
- Winterton
- Colenso
- Weenen
- Dundee
- Glencoe
- Nquthu
- Greytown
- Pomeroy
- Wasbank
- Kranskop
- Tugela Ferry
With severe weather approaching, SAWS and KZN Cogta have highlighted the following risks:
- Widespread flooding of settlements, roads, and bridges
- Damage to property and infrastructure
- Continued potential for displacement of communities
- Prolonged disruption to traffic flow due to road flooding or closures
- Persistent danger to life due to fast-flowing, deep water
- Ongoing disruption to essential services, including water and electricity
- Collapse or damage to mud-based houses
- Hazardous driving conditions with reduced visibility and road closures
- Disruption of traffic flow due to impassable roads and bridges
SAWS has issued critical safety recommendations, urging residents to:
- Remain indoors and avoid non-essential travel
- Refrain from crossing rivers or swollen streams
- Abandon vehicles during flooding and seek higher ground
- Move valuables to upper levels in homes and buildings
- Relocate livestock to elevated areas in rural communities
Building on this, on April 15, 2025, MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma outlined proactive measures to address the impending weather event. “We are in receipt of a weather report from the South African Weather Services informing us of a cold front that will result in dropping temperatures, heavy rainfall, and possible snowfall,” he stated. “We request motorists to monitor weather reports and exercise caution.”
The Road Traffic Inspectorate is fully activated to monitor traffic and coordinate road closures on key routes, including the N3 between Harrismith and Tugela Toll, R617 between Kokstad and Underberg, and N2 Ingeli and N3 Mooi-River. Motor Graders are strategically positioned to clear snow, with over 10 units deployed along critical routes.
The Department of Human Settlements is collaborating with national authorities to provide emergency housing and relocate families if necessary, with Temporary Residential Units prepared for deployment. Furthermore, MEC for KZN CoGTA, Reverend Buthelezi, has reassured residents that disaster management teams are on high alert and will continuously monitor weather updates.
As KwaZulu-Natal faces this formidable weather event, the resilience and preparedness of its communities will be paramount. By heeding safety guidelines, staying vigilant, and supporting one another, the various KZN communities can navigate the challenges of flooding, potential displacement, and disruptions.
Just four months into 2025, Durban in KwaZulu-Natal has already received a significant volume of rainfall. According to TrafficSA, the city received 45 mm of rainfall overnight on Monday, April 14, 2025, which means it has already surpassed its annual rainfall for the year. Durban's average annual rainfall is around 1,009 mm, equating to approximately 69 mm of rain per month.
Prior to the recent rain, SAWS issued a Level 4 weather warning for KZN, predicting significant rainfall that could lead to disruption across the province on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, and continuing through Wednesday, April 16, 2025. The persistent rainfall may result in the flooding of roads and settlements, poor driving conditions, damage to infrastructure, and the destruction of mud-based houses, SAWS cautioned.
The EThekwini Municipality has recommended motorists to use extreme caution and keep a safe following distance when driving on wet roads. In light of such deluge, scientists are developing an early warning system that can save countless lives from floods. The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has granted approximately R46,384,080 to develop this critical system, which will initially focus on the municipalities of eThekwini and Ugu.
This innovative initiative, named the Warning system for Extreme Weather events, Awareness Technology for Healthcare, Equitable delivery, and Resilience (Weather), is set to unfold over four years and, if successful, may see its application extended nationwide. This collaborative endeavor brings together the expertise of the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), the University of the West of Scotland (UWS), the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, and the University of Portsmouth.
“In the Weather project, we are looking at an early warning system that will focus and predict rain and flooding. It will also detect disease symptoms outbreaks. Climate change is no longer a prediction ... It is something you are experiencing,” said Professor David Ndzi of the University of Portsmouth.
