1. Tropical Cyclones Are we at risk?

2. Questions What is a tropical cyclone? How does it threaten us?
What parts of South Africa are threatened?
How can we minimise the risk?

3. What is a Tropical Cyclone?
relatively small, intensely developed low pressure cell
occur over warm oceans
diameter can range between 200 and 2000 km
maximum wind speed exceeds 110 km/h
Torrential rain

4. How does it threaten us? Floods Damage to roads, bridges, buildings
Loss of farmland
Silting of dams and river flood plains

5. How does it threaten us? Wind damage Loss of crops
Damage to buildings and communications
Stormy seas

6. What parts of SA are threatened?
Where do they come from?
How do they travel?

7. Conclusion – most storms miss us
Few reach 25 S as mature storms
Few reach 50

8. Past events in South Africa

9. Demoina and Imboa (1984)
Extensive flood damage in KZN

10. Eline (Feb 2000) Extensive flooding in Mozambique and Limpopo valley

11. Hudah (2002) Serious floods in Mozambique

12. Japhet (2003) Flood disaster in Mozambique and Zimbabwe
(2003)

13. How can we minimise risk?
Monitor information from the weather bureau
Look at weather satellite images
Avoid settling on northern coastal shores
Don’t live on river banks in KwaZulu Natal

14. Conclusion We are not at high risk in this country
But we should have flood relief programmes in place in KwaZulu Natal