Heavy downpours have been battering northern South Africa and neighboring Mozambique, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. Some areas, such as Graskop in Mpumalanga, received staggering amounts of rain over just 24 hours, with totals reaching a whopping 113 millimeters. The deluge shows no signs of letting up, with further heavy rainfall forecast for Friday and the weekend.
The prolonged wet spell is attributed to a slow-moving low-pressure system that has been stuck over the region, sucking in moisture and unleashing torrential downpours. Maputo, Mozambique's capital, can expect its daily rainfall totals to soar to over 200 millimeters by the end of Friday. The western parts of South Africa and north-western Eswatini are also bracing for heavy rain, with totals expected to reach more than 100 millimeters.
The situation is further complicated by already saturated ground, which has been waterlogged after an unusually wet December. As a result, river systems have overflowed, causing widespread flooding that has rendered large areas inaccessible. The South African weather service has raised its flood warning to the highest level, with roads washed away and infrastructure damaged beyond repair.
The impact on local communities has been severe, with evacuations of staff and visitors forced due to rising floodwaters at Kruger national park. Meanwhile, authorities are warning of displaced wildlife, including crocodiles and hippos, which have been spotted near homes. Emergency services have also rescued residents trapped by rapidly rising rivers.
The prolonged wet weather is also taking a toll on the agricultural sector, with parts of Limpopo and Mpumalanga receiving over twice their average annual rainfall since October 2025. The consequences are clear: mangoes and lemons are being disrupted in the harvesting and export process, threatening supply chains.
The prolonged wet spell is attributed to a slow-moving low-pressure system that has been stuck over the region, sucking in moisture and unleashing torrential downpours. Maputo, Mozambique's capital, can expect its daily rainfall totals to soar to over 200 millimeters by the end of Friday. The western parts of South Africa and north-western Eswatini are also bracing for heavy rain, with totals expected to reach more than 100 millimeters.
The situation is further complicated by already saturated ground, which has been waterlogged after an unusually wet December. As a result, river systems have overflowed, causing widespread flooding that has rendered large areas inaccessible. The South African weather service has raised its flood warning to the highest level, with roads washed away and infrastructure damaged beyond repair.
The impact on local communities has been severe, with evacuations of staff and visitors forced due to rising floodwaters at Kruger national park. Meanwhile, authorities are warning of displaced wildlife, including crocodiles and hippos, which have been spotted near homes. Emergency services have also rescued residents trapped by rapidly rising rivers.
The prolonged wet weather is also taking a toll on the agricultural sector, with parts of Limpopo and Mpumalanga receiving over twice their average annual rainfall since October 2025. The consequences are clear: mangoes and lemons are being disrupted in the harvesting and export process, threatening supply chains.
. Flooding everywhere! I can imagine how scary it must be to see your home or business underwater. And those poor animals trapped by rising rivers... it's just heartbreaking 
. The worst part is the impact on farmers and their crops. Mangoes and lemons, they're like a big part of our food culture 
. I hope everyone stays safe and gets the help they need 
. Maybe this rain will finally bring some water to the drought-stricken areas last year? 
Fingers crossed! 
u guyz can't believe what's happnin in SA n Moz! Heavy downpours is a BIG deal, like they say 113 millimeters in just 24 hours? that's crazy 
! I feel for all the peeps affected by the flooding, evacuations and all. Kruger national park is like, totally inaccessible now. Displaced wildlife? 
?! that's wild (pun intended) 
. And on top of that, agriculture is getting hit hard too. Mangoes and lemons are sufferin' cuz of the excess rain. Hope everyone stays safe n dry out soon 
. IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE FLOODS THOUGH - THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR IS ALSO SUFFERING BIG TIME, WITH SUPPLY CHAINS AT RISK 
. WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER AND HELP THESE PEOPLE IN ANY WAY WE CAN 
.
. I mean, I get that we need to respect Mother Nature and all, but can't she just give us a break for once? 200mm of rain in 24 hours is insane 
! It's not like we didn't see this coming with the low-pressure system stuck over the region... I mean, come on, folks! Weather forecasting isn't rocket science 
. But honestly, it's just so inconvenient for people who have to deal with the aftermath - flooded homes, destroyed infrastructure, and a whole lot of disruption to daily life 
. And don't even get me started on the agricultural sector... mangoes and lemons are like, what, the main export? Can't they just prepare for this kind of weather or something? I mean, it's not like we're asking for perfection here 
. First, it was all sunshine and rainbows in the 90s and early 2000s when I was a kid, and then we got these crazy droughts in the 2010s. Now, it's like she's switching between extremes left and right 
. And don't even get me started on the agricultural sector... all that mango and lemon production going haywire 
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. And don't even get me started on the ads...can't they see I'm trying to process this tragedy over here? 
Ugh, can't believe this is how we're kickin' off '25... northern South Africa & Mozambique gettin' pounded by heavy downpours for DAYS on end... 113mm in just 24 hours in Graskop? That's straight-up crazy talk! And the fact that it's only gonna keep gettin' worse with more rain comin' this Friday 
. Poor folks out there, gotta deal with floodwaters up to their eyeballs & displaced wildlife... and let's not forget about those mangoes & lemons, just when we thought we were good to go 
.
. I mean, roads have been washed away, infrastructure's damaged, and people are having to evacuate Kruger national park due to rising floodwaters 
I just can't help but feel so sorry for those people affected by this crazy weather 
️. I mean, who needs 113 millimeters of rain in one day?! 
. What really gets me is that some areas are already waterlogged from last month's heavy rainfall 
. I just hope everyone stays safe and gets the help they need 
What are they gonna do, just sit around and wait for nature to fix itself? No way 
. And can we talk about the displaced wildlife?! Crocodiles and hippos roaming free near homes... that's just wild 
. It's not just the rain itself but also the ground being waterlogged from the previous months' rainfall 
At least the authorities are taking care of the evacuations and rescues though