Strong storms expected to hit city

are possible on some of the high peaks in eastern Lesotho, but the falls are expected to be limited to these high peaks, and at this stage is unlikely to fall below elevations of 3 000m.”

According Snow SA there might be some more cold weather on the way next week as well.

Any rainfall in the Northern Cape will be very welcome as most areas have received far less rain than usual for this time of the year.

According to Weather SA, Kimberley had a total of 6mm of rain last month, only 41 percent of the city’s average rainfall for August.

Other areas in the Province where rain was recorded in the last month (although in most areas this was also well below the average) include Barkly West 15mm (150 percent), Danielskuil 5mm (38 percent), Garies 1mm (nine percent), Kamieskroon 1mm (five percent), Kenhardt 1mm (19 percent), Kuruman 19mm, Nieuwoudtville 5mm, Noupoort 2mm (eight percent), Orania 1mm, Petrusville 6mm, Springbok 1mm, Sutherland 3mm (18 percent), Upington 1mm (13 percent), Vaalharts 15mm (108 percent), Van Zylsrus 8mm and Windsorton 45mm (330 percent).

The Department of Water and Sanitation in the Northern Cape has continued to urge residents to use water sparingly.

“The Northern Cape is one of the driest provinces in the country and water users are encouraged to fix leaking taps in their households and report burst pipes to municipalities to minimise water loss,” department spokesperson, Amogelang Moholoeng, said.

This week’s state of reservoirs report indicates that the Vaal Dam is 85.6 percent full. The Vaalharts Weir is at 81.6 percent, Spitskop 84.1 percent, Douglas storage weir 101.5 percent, Boegoeberg Dam 106.5 percent and the Karee River at 2.7 percent.

The total amount of water storage in the Northern Cape is 87.9 percent.

The Department of Water Affairs has, meanwhile, expressed concern about the Integrated Vaal River System (IVRS), as few chances of rainfall are being forecast going into summer.

In a statement issued on Friday, the department pointed out that the Vaal Dam had decreased in a week by 0.9 percent to 85.6 percent from 86.5 percent.

“Compared to last year during the same period, the dam was sitting at a desperate 30.4 percent, raising serious concerns about water supply.

“Also on the downturn, the Bloemhof Dam marginally decreased by 3.2 percent from 94.5 percent to 91.3 percent in the same period. Last year during the same time this dam was sitting at a dismal level of 20.4 percent,” the department stated.

“In light of this situation, the Department of Water and Sanitation is calling on consumers to spare no effort in making sure that last year’s grim situation of severe water shortage is not repeated. In this regard, water users are called upon to use the depleting resource wisely and sparingly.”