Large areas of north-eastern South Africa and neighbouring Mozambique have been inundated for several days due to exceptionally heavy rainfall. The deluge, driven by a slow-moving cut-off low pressure system, has triggered a flood warning raised to the highest level, washing away roads and forcing the evacuation of Kruger National Park.
Some locations in South Africa recorded hundreds of millimetres of rain over the weekend. Graskop in Mpumalanga saw 113mm of rainfall in 24 hours, while Phalaborwa recorded approximately 85mm. Rain has continued to fall across the region since the weekend, exacerbating the already critical situation. A fallen tree blocked a road in Giyani, north-eastern South Africa, further disrupting transportation.
The cut-off low pressure system responsible for the extreme weather has remained anchored over the region, repeatedly drawing in moisture and triggering intense downpours, according to Ishani Mistry and Ollie Lewis. This meteorological phenomenon occurs when a low-pressure system becomes detached from the main airflow, causing it to stall and persist in a particular area.
Further heavy rainfall is expected on Friday and over the weekend. Maputo, Mozambique's capital, could expect daily rainfall totals to exceed 200mm by the end of Friday, potentially leading to further widespread flooding and displacement. The ongoing rainfall poses a significant threat to infrastructure, agriculture, and human lives in the affected areas. Emergency services are struggling to cope with the scale of the disaster, and aid organizations are mobilizing to provide assistance to those affected.
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