Heavy rains battered KwaZulu-Natal on Monday afternoon causing flash floods and blocked roads.

Motorists battled to navigate water-logged roads from KwaDukuza on the north coast to Westville and Amanzimtoti.

KZN Emergency Medical Service spokesman Robert McKenzie said they had received reports of localised flooding in KwaDukuza (Stanger) and central Durban.

“Central Durban is gridlocked because of the belting rain‚” said McKenzie.

He said however there were no reports of injuries as yet.

Meanwhile Lennox Mabaso‚ KZN spokesman for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) said MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube has placed the province’s disaster management teams on standby as KZN anticipates more rain and snowfall.

The heavy rains and snowfall which started at the weekend have led to the closure of the R617 national route between Bulwer and Kokstad due to snow. The N3 highway has also experienced congestion as a result of enthusiastic snow-watchers flocking towards the Drakensberg but remains open.

 Weather reports indicate that this situation is going to continue until at least Tuesday. No casualties have been reported to date but one vehicle is known to have been trapped in snow near Bulwer. Dube-Ncube has urged motorists to make only necessary trips.

 “We are very concerned about the poor weather conditions and we urge motorists to drive with extreme care. We are in contact with the emergency services and our disaster teams are on the ground to provide assistance in case of incidents‚” said Dube-Ncube.

KZN Cogta has also urged motorists to pack extra blankets and food in the event that they are caught in lengthy road closures. Dube-Ncube has also urged parents to ensure that school children are properly dressed and that schools consult traffic authorities about the conditions of access roads.

 Social media flooded with pictures of torrential downpours in Durban

Pictures of water logged golf courses‚ schools‚ roads and sports grounds flooded social media as torrential downpours battered Durban on Monday afternoon.

A Mercedes ML was submerged half way in Quarry Road‚ near Clare Estate‚ as water gathered on the road and washed into the informal settlement built alongside the road.

In nearby Clare Road‚ an abandoned Mercedes was also stuck in water.

Pupils were forced to leave their classes at Manor Gardens School near Glenwood as large pools of water gathered in the corridors and passageways.

IPS medical rescue service reported it had had responded to many accidents as a result of the rain mainly north of Durban.

One social media user‚ Neville Bernstein‚ posted a picture of a water-logged Royal Durban Golf Course.

Flood warnings were circulated on social media for the following areas:

 Flooding N2 to Durban Galleria area in Amanzimtoti‚ Mild flooding near cement factory N2 before Edwin Swales‚ Umhlanga N2 North bound just after off ramp‚ Opposite the Chatsglen Railway station on the Higginson Highway near Westcliff in Chatsworth‚ Clare Road to Umgeni offramp. South Coast and Blamey Road intersection near Mobeni.