Day Zero might be pushed back after some good rainfall yesterday, but we are not out of the woods yet.
This is according to Garth Sampson, spokesperson from the PE branch of the South African Weather Service (SAWS).
Earlier this week Sampson said that between 20mm to 30mm rain was expected over the Langkloof, the main catchment of the Nelson Mandela Bay’s dams.
“I must say the models were spot on this time with 20mm to 30 mm plus were measured in places,” he said.
Sampson added that they will only know the influence on the dam levels on Monday, May 23 once all the water has flowed into the dams from the upper catchment.
- Avontuur 20mm, De Hoop Uniondale (Bo Kouga) 18mm and Joubertina 29mm all flow to Kouga dam
- Kareedouw 24mm goes to Churchill dam, then Impofu if it overflows
- Willowmore 15mm and Cambria (25mm until 20:00 last night) is an indication of what is happening in Baviaans, part of which flows into Kouga dam
- Stuurmans 32mm is in the heart of Kouga
- Patensie 23mm (SAWS) to 40mm (GIB) and Kouga 37mm are at the dam area
“I would say that I am hoping for a few percentage rise in dam levels, which will push day zero forward. However, we are not out of the woods yet, but have been given some breathing space.”
He said that models show more rain is expected until early tomorrow morning “and then it looks dry for the next 10 days”.
INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY SAWS
