12th March 2010
A flash flood hit Willowmore in the Eastern Cape on Wednesday night turning rivers and streams into raging torrents.
Police spokesperson, captain John Fobian, says around 80mm of rain fell in the town and surrounding district in just 30 minutes. He says a full assessment of the situation will be made on Thursday morning but there were no reports of injuries or damage.
PE weather office spokesperson, Garth Sampson, says however that very little rain fell in the catchment areas where Nelson Mandela Bay's main supply dams are situated.
Meanwhile, international climate expert, Sir David King, says the heatwave in the Eastern and Western Cape is undoubtedly linked to global climate change. Sir David was the keynote speaker at Wednesday's launch of the South East African Climate Consortium at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. The consortium consists of three universities, NMMU, Rhodes and Fort Hare and two environmental NGO's, the Sustainable Seas Trust and the Wilderness Foundation.
Responding to a question, Sir King said he believes the heatwave experienced in the province is linked to climate change.
"What is interesting here is that in the northern hemisphere this winter we are having an exceedingly cold winter. So, we have got to remember that the planet is not just our own back yard. There is a much larger planet in play," said Sir David.
A flash flood hit Willowmore in the Eastern Cape on Wednesday night turning rivers and streams into raging torrents.
Police spokesperson, captain John Fobian, says around 80mm of rain fell in the town and surrounding district in just 30 minutes. He says a full assessment of the situation will be made on Thursday morning but there were no reports of injuries or damage.
PE weather office spokesperson, Garth Sampson, says however that very little rain fell in the catchment areas where Nelson Mandela Bay's main supply dams are situated.
Meanwhile, international climate expert, Sir David King, says the heatwave in the Eastern and Western Cape is undoubtedly linked to global climate change. Sir David was the keynote speaker at Wednesday's launch of the South East African Climate Consortium at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. The consortium consists of three universities, NMMU, Rhodes and Fort Hare and two environmental NGO's, the Sustainable Seas Trust and the Wilderness Foundation.
Responding to a question, Sir King said he believes the heatwave experienced in the province is linked to climate change.
"What is interesting here is that in the northern hemisphere this winter we are having an exceedingly cold winter. So, we have got to remember that the planet is not just our own back yard. There is a much larger planet in play," said Sir David.
Report by the S.A. Weather and Disaster Information Service
