Heavy rain continues to lash South Africa by Matt Taylor
Days of heavy rain across parts of South Africa have caused widespread flooding, leaving more than 5 people dead. Torrential rain has been lashing parts of the country since Sunday, with temperatures plummeting to the mid-teens. Thousands of people are battling the torrents of water, with the city of Bloemfontein one of the worst hit by the rains, which has destroyed schools and roads.
The heavy showers have been caused by an upper trough which has been lying off the west of the country. A trough is an elongated are of low pressure, which is often associated with fronts. A front is the leading edge of an air mass, and marks the boundary between two air masses.
The South African Weather Service has forecast further heavy downpours over the next 48 hours for the southern coast, and Eastern and Western Cape. In particular, the Eden districts of the Western Cape are expected to receive more than 50mm (1.97 inches) of rain in the next 24 hours. The average monthly rainfall for this region is 122mm, meaning nearly half a months rain fall would fall in just one day.
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