KZN disaster teams on alert as damaging winds expected to persist
uMhlathuze has placed its disaster teams on high alert in response to a level 2 warning for damaging winds and waves along the KwaZulu-Natal coastline to Wednesday.
Forecasters say we can expect gale force winds of more than 62 kilometres per hour and wave heights rising several metres.
uMhlathuze's Municipality Bongani Gina says while they won't be closing their beaches on the north coast, they are urging people to be cautious.
"We ask all residents to be careful and not to go out if it is not necessary to leave the house. We also plead with those who have built houses along the shores and those with houses along the dams to be very vigilant."
The South African Weather Service's Ayanda Nsele says as gale force winds will whip through areas along the coast, their alert for damaging waves will remain in place for the rest of the week.
"We are expecting those waves to rise to about five to seven metres during the course of today. We are expecting the waves to be very rough until Friday. We are only expecting the waves to subside back to 2.5 and 3 metres from Saturday afternoon."
She says there are likely to be some disruptions to port and harbour activities.
"There will be difficulty in navigation for small vessels. We also do expect local damages of costal infrastructure that are in harbours and at ports. We do caution people to stay off the beaches."
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