WARNINGS: Extremely high fire danger conditions are expected over the western interior of the Northern Cape, interior of the West Coast District, Cape Winelands and Little Karoo.
WATCHES: -----Nil
SPECIAL WEATHER ADVISORIES: 1. Extremely hot conditions are expected over the interior of the West Coast District. 2. Hot and dry weather conditions will result in extremely uncomfortable conditions over the interior of the Northern and Western Cape interior.
MSBWX National Severe Weather Observations:-----Nil
MSBWX General Weather Observations: Cool, warm to very hot conditions expected today over parts of SA. Thunderstorms and rain showers can be expected in parts of Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, North West, Free State, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape and Kwazulu Natal.
MSBWX National Disaster Observations:
1. Several veld fires were again burning in parts of the Western Cape yesterday. Fire fighting services on scenes to contained and extinguish the fires.
Images: Working on Fire (Click on images or larger view.)
2. Drought lingers over KZN - Neighbours are turning to spying on each other as the fear of taps running dry grows on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast. Confronted with the possibility of the water supply running out by June, residents have been reporting neighbours who are wasting water and violating restrictions to local authority Sembcorp Siza Water. Body corporates have issued fines of R3000 to residents who do not abide by the "level three" water restrictions. Umgeni Water yesterday said the current level of Hazelmere Dam, which supplies Ballito, Verulam, La Mercy, Westbrook, Tongaat, Seatides, Groutville, Ndwedwe and Umhlali, was only 37%. "This represents a serious situation which is deteriorating as a result of the absence of the expected spring and summer rains," Umgeni Water spokesman Shami Hurichunder said. Ballito ward councillor Colin Marsh said residents took the restrictions very seriously. "The residents have accepted that times are tough and the community has stepped up. "Residents are even reporting their neighbours who are watering their gardens despite being told not to. This is good because we are all affected by this," he said. Sembcorp patrols the area to ensure that water is not wasted. "There have been very few fines and some holidaymakers were warned," Marsh said. Dolphin Coast Ratepayers and Residents Association chairman Louis Luyt jnr said residential body corporates had already issued several fines. "One body corporate issued a fine of R3000 to one of its members who used a hosepipe to wash out his garage," he said. Sembcorp spokesman Khosi Mathenjwa said 14 fines had been issued to date. The level three restrictions include a total ban on the use of hosepipes and on the use of spa hot tubs. No new swimming pools may be constructed and only recycled water may be used to top up existing pools. Sembcorp has warned that it might have to cut off the water supply from 9pm to 5am. "This has not yet happened but it could become a reality very soon as levels drop further," said Luyt. - Times Live
Kwazulu Natal faces water shortage: Umgeni Water's Shami Harichunder says residents and businesses in KZN need to prepare for possible stringent water restrictions. He says the recent rainfall has not been enough to raise water levels in dams that supply water to households. ''The reality is that the situation has not improved at all. Rains have not come, in fact experts are now saying good rainfalls are only expected around March or April of 2015,'' he said. As a result, districts such as Ilembe District Municipality have already started implementing restrictions that see water available only at selected times during the day. - East Coast Radio.
NSRI National Warnings:------ Nil
- MSBWX + SAWXREP + SAWS
