Heavy Rains and Severe Thunderstorms Prompt Road Closures, School Shutdowns, and Business Disruptions Across KwaZulu-Natal on March 3, 2025, Following Weeks of Volatile Conditions
Durban, South Africa – March 3, 2025, 10:57 AM CAT Durban awoke to chaos this Monday as the South African Weather Service (SAWS) upgraded its weather warning Durban to a rare Level 5 alert, signaling severe thunderstorms, torrential downpours, and high winds battering KwaZulu-Natal’s coastal hub. The escalation, announced late Sunday, follows days of escalating forecasts, with authorities now scrambling to manage flooded roads, disrupted commerce, and heightened risks to residents after a weekend of unrelenting rain.
SAWS predicts up to 100 millimeters of rainfall today, coupled with damaging winds gusting to 60 kilometers per hour and a barrage of lightning strikes. The warning, in effect until midnight, spans Durban and stretches inland to Pietermaritzburg, with a Level 4 alert lingering for surrounding areas. “This is a high-impact event—expect localized flooding, power outages, and dangerous driving conditions,” said SAWS meteorologist Lulama Pheme, pointing to a low-pressure system off the east coast as the culprit. The agency’s fire danger index also spiked, warning of rapid-spreading blazes in drier pockets despite the deluge.
By mid-morning, the city’s arteries were clogging. The N3 highway saw partial closures near Westville after a truck skidded into a ditch, while the M4 Ruth First Highway was shut southbound due to pooling water. eThekwini Municipality deployed emergency crews to clear stormwater drains, but Mayor Cyril Xaba admitted the system was “overwhelmed.” Schools across Durban closed preemptively, with parents like Nomvula Dlamini left juggling childcare. “I can’t get to work, and the kids are home—it’s a mess,” she said, peering out at a submerged street in Umlazi.
Businesses, still reeling from February’s floods, braced for another hit. The Durban Chamber of Commerce voiced alarm, with CEO Palesa Phili noting, “This is the third weather event this year—it’s crippling trade.” Port operations slowed as smaller vessels were barred from navigating choppy seas, echoing a Level 2 marine warning for capsizing risks. Posts on X captured the mood: one user quipped, “Durban’s turning into a swimming pool—where’s the lifeguard?”
The province’s history of weather woes looms large. The 2022 floods, which claimed over 400 lives, haunt officials pushing preparedness. Disaster management teams are on high alert, with shelters open in low-lying areas like Phoenix and Chatsworth. “We’re not taking chances,” said KZN Cooperative Governance MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi, urging residents to avoid travel. KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli is set to address the crisis this afternoon, with calls mounting for federal aid if damage tallies rise.
For now, Durban hunkers down. The rain, hammering rooftops since dawn, shows no sign of easing, and while the city’s spirit is resilient, this latest test—piled atop climate change’s growing toll—has residents and leaders alike eyeing the skies with unease. As one X post put it, “Mother Nature’s not playing nice this March.” Relief may come Tuesday, with forecasts hinting at a calmer spell—but until then, the storm reigns supreme.
