Immediate warning of extreme heat and elevated fire risk across KZN

Durban — The winds, warm and hot weather conditions currently affecting KwaZulu-Natal are due to a cold front moving across the southern interior of the country.

Ahead of the cold front are north-westerly winds known as Berg winds sweeping across the province.

The South African Weather Service (Saws) issued a yellow level 2 warning for damaging winds which may result in structural damage and cause issues for high-sided vehicles on major road.

Winds are expected over the interior of the Western Cape, the Eastern Cape, Free State, southern parts of North-West, eastern and southern parts of the Northern Cape and most parts of KZN.

The Saws also issued a yellow level 2 warning for damaging winds resulting in localised disruption of small harbours and/or a port for a short period of time, small vessels at risk of taking on water and capsising in a locality and difficulty in navigation e.g. hampered progress due to strong winds along the KZN coast.

Additionally, on fire danger warnings, Saws said extremely high fire danger conditions are expected over most parts of the country, except the western and north-eastern parts.

Saws forecaster Nhlanhla Sithole said the province has damaging interior winds for Sunday. A yellow level 2 warning was issued, which is due to the cold front that is moving across the southern interior of the country.

“Ahead of that cold front, we have those north-westerly winds, Berg winds. Those winds result in warmer and hot temperatures, especially over the central and eastern parts of the province. As a result of these strong winds, and the warm and hot temperatures, we issued an FDI (Fire Danger Index) warning for today (Sunday) as well,” Sithole explained.

“When we have winds blowing down the escarpment, the wind tends to dry up and increases the temperature as it goes down, resulting in warm and hot, and that is what is happening today (Sunday).”

Sithole said Sunday will be warm to hot, but very hot over the central and eastern interior and on Monday, the province will go back to cool conditions.

KZN Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi has placed disaster management teams on alert following a high fire danger warning for the province.

The warning, valid from 9am on Sunday, August 4, until 10pm, forecasts extremely high fire danger conditions over most parts of the province.

Affected areas include Abaqulusi, Alfred Duma - Indaka, Alfred Duma - Ladysmith, Big Five Hlabisa - Hlabisa, Big Five Hlabisa - Hluhluwe, Dannhauser, Dr N. Dlamini-Zuma - Underberg, eDumbe, eMadlangeni, Endumeni, eThekwini, Greater Kokstad, Impendle, Ingwe, Inkosi Langalibalele - Estcourt, Inkosi Langalibalele - Sobabili, Jozini, KwaDukuza, Mandeni, Maphumulo, Mkhambathini, Mpofana - Giants Castle, Mpofana - Mooi River, Msinga, Mthonjaneni, Mtubatuba, Ndwedwe and Newcastle.

Buthelezi urged all residents to exercise extreme caution and follow safety instructions to prevent potential disasters.

Potential impacts include reduced visibility, damage to property and vegetation, air and water pollution and potential loss of human and/or animal life.

Cogta instructed the public as follows:

• Do not make fires in open areas or leave fires unattended.
• Do not discard cigarette butts out of car windows or in open fields.
• Avoid throwing bottles in the veld as they can magnify the sun's rays and ignite fires.
• Prepare and maintain fire-breaks in a controlled manner.
• In case of a large fire, report it immediately and move away to allow professionals to handle it.

Cogta spokesperson Senzelwe Mzila said: “Already last month, KwaZulu-Natal lost 15 lives due to wildfires that ravaged large parts of the province.”

ALS Paramedics Medical Services spokesperson Garrith Jamieson encouraged the public to exercise caution.

“With the temperature reaching up to 35° today (Sunday) with the same humidity please ensure to please stay hydrated. Please also remember the elderly and the young and of course also your animals. Please ensure they have enough water etc. to stay hydrated,” Jamieson said.

“We are also already seeing excessive winds in and around Durban. Please be aware of debris on the roadway and branches falling off trees. These winds could also cause large wave swells and bathers need to please exercise extreme caution.”

IPSS Search and Rescue spokesperson Samantha Meyrick said: “We urge everyone to stay hydrated and remain in cool areas during the hottest parts of the day. We also urge the public to practice water safety if swimming in any body of water to cool off.”

Meyrick also reminded people to ensure unstable structures like loose roofing are secured as best as possible.

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