Friday, 29 July 2011

Zululanders blown away

White water fury - Huge waves crash over the southern breakwater during Tuesday’s fierce gales. In the foreground, the normally calm harbour entrance was transformed into a raging sea that prevented vessels from entering and leaving the Port of Richards Bay.

Winds packing a punch of 70 knots and swells peaking at over 10m intermittently saw trees being uprooted, roofs blown, fallen light poles, homes washed away and harbour activities literally coming to a halt. But weather forecasters predict that the mercury will climb over the next two days, bringing some relief to Zululanders after the icy snap which gusted throughout the region on Monday and Tuesday. Transnet National Ports Authority confirmed that the Port of Richards Bay was officially closed at around 8.24pm on Monday for all traffic while the Harbour Master suspended all incomings from 1pm on Monday due to adverse weather. Damages were also incurred to the flag pole at Port Control and the gate at the tug jetty but fortunately no one was reported in distress. By 9.30am on Wednesday, all port operations resumed with winds dying down to 30 knots south easterly and 6m swells. Gusty winds on Tuesday raging throughout Zululand also caused damage to the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Richards Bay base, with crew having to add support to the windows and tying down roof edges to weather the storm until the morning. Some of the roof sheeting was ripped off while crew speedily tried to move equipment out of the offices. In KwaMbonambi, wind speeds peaked at 90km/h at 10pm on Tuesday with the Zululand Fire Protection Association issuing a Fire Danger Index of 63 (code orange). Winds also howled through Nyalazi north of Mtubatuba at 61km/h at 2pm and were recorded at 74km/hr at 10pm on Tuesday at Mtunzini. In Babanango, temperatures plummeted to a minimum of 4.7 and a maximum of 7 degrees Celcius. The cold weather grip was the result of a low pressure system brought about by the home-grown cold front pushing its way across the country.

Relief
However, Forecaster at the Durban Weather Office, Stacy Colborne told the Zululand Observer that temperatures would rise over the next two days. ‘Swells in Richards Bay should die down to between two and three metres by the weekend and winds will weaken to between 10 and 20 knots. ‘No further rainfall is expected and temperatures will rise to around 22 degrees Celsius,’ said Colborne. Meanwhile, the KZN Department of Education was also forced to close some schools as a result of inclement weather conditions in far reaching northern towns like Obanjeni. But it has been the poorest of the poor, who have felt the worst brunt of the cold snap in the heart of rural areas. Disaster Management Services are currently assessing reports throughout the uThungulu District to determine the extent of the storm damage and carry out relief operations.