Area operations manager for Amatola Water Chris Nair says the heavy rains in catchment areas for Grahamstown in recent weeks are good news for the city's water outlook.
Area operations manager for Amatola Water Chris Nair says the heavy rains in catchment areas for Grahamstown in recent weeks are good news for the city's water outlook.
"Just before the heavy storm [on 12 November]we were on danger level," Nair said. "Another metre or so less and we wouldn't have been able to run the pumps."
This was the case during a water shortage in 2010, Nair said, when the levels of the water storage dams were so low that the pumps couldn't be run.
"The rain was a blessing: the dam levels are up again," Nair said.
After freak storms hit Grahamstown two weeks ago, heavy rain took over on Sunday night 23 November.
Rain gauge readings of up to 36mm of rain were reported in and around the city.
Members of the Grocott's Mail weather-watching team reported readings of between 33mm and 36mm overnight.
Nick James, of Rivendell at the bottom of Howieson's Poort around 10km from Grahamstown off the N2 west, said, "The readings were up to 33mm, which does not do much good for the gravel roads. Other than that there was no damage done by the rain."
Grahamstown resident Yvain Erasmus, of Cradock Heights, said, "The storm really scared us last night. It came in one of our rooms here. The house is well built, but the rain came through the door and it just turned wet all over."
Meanwhile, Alicedale is still recovering from the effects of the freak storm on Wednesday 12 November.
Residents reported broken windows and damaged roofs as a result of the hail and driving rain.
Eli Konstant compared the storm to a tornado the town experienced in 2008.
"I was so scared when the lightning hit," Konstant said. "It was like that same tornado we experienced back in 2008.
"But the people I am most worried about are the people from the townships," she said.
The forecast for the coming week predicts several cloudy days, some with rain. The heaviest rainfall predicted is for Wednesday 3 December (1.4mm).
Temperatures predicted are in the mid-20s until the weekend, when they hover around 20C.
Monday 1 December will be a hot 28 degrees, according to weather site yr.no.
Wednesday 3 December is the next predicted cool day at 15C.
