More wet weather expected in Gauteng

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Pretoria - The wet weather which has set in over Gauteng is expected to last until Saturday.

Simon Tswane, a forecaster at the South African Weather Services, said on Thursday that most parts of Gauteng will continue to experience cloudy and thunder showers during the next two days.

"Johannesburg and Pretoria have an 80 percent of thunder showers during the next two days," he said.

Emergency services have urged motorists to exercise caution when driving during rainy conditions. Drivers should slow down, keep a safe following distance and turn on their headlights.

Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality spokesperson Console Tleane has urged residence to be on high alert for floods, especially those living in low lying areas. "There might be some floods, we therefore urge people to be on alert," said Mr Tleane.

He said no incidences have been reported since the rain started on Tuesday evening.

In Johannesburg, emergency services have advised motorists avoid roads flooded and use alternative routes. If the driver stalls the car while going through a big mass of water, abandon it and move to higher ground, do not to walk across low-lying bridges, sewer or water pipes and keep away from power lines.

Other provinces have also been experiencing rainy conditions, including Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Free State, the Western Cape and the Eastern Cape.