Weather warning pushed up to alert level 9
The Department of Cooperative Governance in KZN has urged residents to exercise extreme caution on the roads as severe weather continues to batter parts of the province.
A cut-off low-pressure system - accompanied by heavy snow, damaging winds, and disruptive rain - swept across Harry Gwala, uThukela, and Ugu on Tuesday morning.
Due to heavy snowfall, all roads leading to Kokstad and the N2 near Ingeli have been closed.
Motorists have been urged to avoid the area.
The department says violent winds, some reaching speeds of up to 110 kilometres per hour, have uprooted trees and caused power outages across parts of the province.
Parts of the N3 have also been affected by downed trees.
Cogta says disaster response and municipal teams are working to clear roads and restore electricity.
Meanwhile, the SA Weather Services' Lehlohonolo Thobela has issued an updated weather warning for the Eastern Cape and neighbouring coastal areas.
" There has been an updated weather warning of an Orange Level 9 warning for disruptive rain that's expected to impact the eastern half of the Eastern Cape province into the coastal areas.
WATCH: Kokstad roads closed due to snow
"Disruptive rain is expected to result in flooding, a widespread flooding of roads and settlements, a danger to life due to fast flowing streams or deep waters, and widespread transport routes and travel services are expected to be severely affected. Widespread prolonged disruptions to essential services like water, electricity, communities, and schools."
Kokstad businessman Cameron Whittle says it's bitterly cold there.
" It's very windy and it's all closed in, but the snow is falling quite thick. So we live in Kokstad and we can see that it's not usual for it to snow this thick in town. Normally, it's just not thick, just on the outside. But in town, it's snowed quite thick and very windy. A lot of trucks are stuck. There are a lot of trucks standing around town because all the roads are closed leading out of Kokstad."
Current conditions of the roads around KZN
● eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality
All roads open, no effect from adverse weather, experiencing heavy wind on coastal area at this time.
● Ilembe District Municipality
All roads open, no effect from adverse weather, experiencing heavy wind on coastal area at this time.
● uMgungundlovuDistrict Municipality
All roads open, no effect from adverse weather. Experiencing heavy berg wind currently.
●Umkhanyakude District Municipality
All roads open, experiencing windy conditions.
The main concern is a fallen tree on the road at R22, Section 2, which was reported last night and our standby team responded promptly and removed the trees.
The road rehab contracts are proceeding smoothly with only day closures currently in place.
●Zululand District Municipality
No issues have been reported and the patrol teams are actively monitoring the route.
●King Cetshwayo District Municipality
All seems to be in order for now. The patrol teams are inspecting the route.
●N2 Ugu District Municipality
Rain with strong winds.
Fallen trees are being attended by RRM.
No major issues to report on the N2 towards Port Edward and N2 towards Harding.
●Harry Gwala District Municipality
The N2 from Ingeli towards Kokstad triangle is closed due to the snow.
●N2 from Kokstad triangle (Kokstad Bridge project) towards Brooksnek is also closed due to snow.
There is rain and strong winds in Umzimkhulu and Ixopo
Umzimkhulu RTI and RRM closed the road on the N2 Stafford Post (Umzimkhulu area) because motorists are forcing to go through while there's snow in beesterkraal.
●AmajubaDistrict Municipality
N11-3&4 clear. Just very high, icy winds prevailing.
●Uthukela District Municipality
N11-1 & 2 clear. Just very high, icy winds prevailing.
Snow on the Drakensberg, but not effecting any roads.
●Umzinyathi District Municipality
N11-3 clear. Just very high, icy winds prevailing.
