Since Sunday the South African Weather Service has measured more than 345mm of rain at Tshakhuma near Levubu in Limpopo. The town is located about 46km from Makhado (formerly Louis Trichardt).
By Alani Janeke, senior journalist at African Farming and Landbouweekblad
According to the weather service’s rainfall report published on its website, 176mm of rain was recorded at Tshakhuma from 08:00 on Monday, 12 January, to 08:00 the following day. A new record of 169.9mm was also measured at the town on Sunday, 11 January. The previous record rainfall at Tshakhuma was 96.2mm, recorded on 19 January 2020.
Full rainfall reports for the period from 08:00 on Sunday, 11 January, to 08:00 on Monday, 12 January, are not available on the website.
Based on forecasts, additional rain would have fallen in the area, meaning that more than 345.6mm of rain has already been recorded at Tshakhuma.
The second-highest rainfall recorded on Monday was 165mm at Shangoni in the Kruger National Park. The highest rainfall recorded between Saturday and Sunday was at Graskop in Mpumalanga, where 113mm was measured.
A total of 131mm of rain was recorded at Tshinowa Primary School in Thohoyandou on Monday, while 124mm was measured at Thengwe, a settlement north of Thohoyandou. Westfalia Estate near Tzaneen received 108mm.
According to the weather service’s warning for Tuesday, heavy rainfall was expected to continue over largely the same areas affected on Monday, with the exception of the far northern parts of KwaZulu-Natal.
“Disruptive rainfall is expected over the eastern parts of Limpopo and Mpumalanga on 12 and 13 January, as well as over the far north-eastern parts of KwaZulu-Natal on Tuesday,” the warning stated.
According to Johan van den Berg, an independent agricultural meteorologist, heavy rainfall could still occur in some areas until Saturday.
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