Irina set to head back to SA

2012-03-05 13:01

Durban - Cyclone Irina, which caused heavy storms over KwaZulu-Natal during the weekend, was hovering over the Indian Ocean some 400km east of Durban on Monday morning.

The SA Weather Service predicted Irina would move further away from the country before tracking back during the middle of the week.

Spokesperson Elizabeth Webster said although Irina would turn back towards South Africa, it would remain offshore before heading south.

She said Irina was now classified as a moderate tropical storm and would later this week intensify to a severe tropical storm by the time it was expected to head south on Thursday or Friday.

Rainfall

Rainfall predictions across the province for the next few days were also expected to drop, with a 60% chance of rain expected along the KwaZulu-Natal coast and a 30% chance of rain in the province's interior.

"We are expecting showers along KwaZulu-Natal until Tuesday. In northern parts of KwaZulu-Natal rainfall is expected until Thursday," Webster said.

During the past few days, the most rain was recorded at Charter's Creek in St Lucia's iSimangaliso Wetlands Park, with 245.8mm falling on Saturday and Sunday. Further south, Durban had 140.8mm of rain between Sunday and Monday morning. Webster said further rain could be expected on Thursday or Friday in Richards Bay.

- Send us your Irina photos

- SAPA