More rain expected in Mpumalanga, Limpopo as Eloise wreaks havoc
The South African Weather Services says tropical storm Eloise has been downgraded to an overland depression.
While the storm has weakened, more rainfall is expected in some parts of Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the eastern parts of North West.
The storm, which has already lost some of its strength, has wreaked havoc in parts of Mozambique and affected some roads in South Africa.
The weather service issued a red level 10 warning for eastern parts of Limpopo and Mpumalanga for Sunday evening into Monday morning.
Senior forecaster Puseletso Mofokeng says the alert level will be downgraded.
“We are experiencing cloudy conditions with 60% chances of showers in Gauteng. This is expected to continue even tomorrow, the eastern part of Mpumalanga and northern KwaZuluNatal is still experiencing heavy rain at the moment because of the secondary system and pressure. It will continue even tomorrow.
“We are going to downgrade our warning from level 10. In terms of Eloise, it is causing heavy rains in the eastern parts of Limpopo and we are expecting 80% chances of rain.”
He says the rain will move to Botswana by Tuesday.
“Wednesday and Thursday heavy rains are also expected in the Northwest, Free State and Eastern Cape, this is because of a new system coming from Atlantic Ocean which will connect with the one coming from Botswana.”
Meanwhile, the Department of Social Development in Limpopo is moving to assist households that may be affected by continuous rainfall.
MEC for Social Development Nkakareng Rakgoale says officials are on standby to offer immediate relief should the need arise.
"In response to this imminent natural disaster, the Department of Social Development is ready to provide social relief of distress which includes food parcels, blankets and other basic amenities to displaced families.
“We have also started mobilising the private sector to come on board to ensure that we beef up our state of readiness of cooked meals at CNDCs, particularly in the Vhembe and Mopani Districts. The department's agency, SASSA, has also made 600 blankets and sanitisers available to ensure that we react promptly to our people as an assessment will be conducted by our officials on the ground."
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