South Africa has experienced catastrophic rains and flash floods, resulting in at least six deaths and more people still missing. The western parts of the country have experienced unsettled weather, with frequent spells of heavy rain. On Christmas Eve, the city of Ladysmith experienced flash flooding, causing significant damage to infrastructure. Amateur weather stations reported 60mm of rain within an hour, while the average rainfall in Ladysmith for December is just over 100mm. Three vehicles were washed away when a nearby river burst its banks, causing water to flow on to the road. One minibus carrying nine people was found dead inside, while the other six remain missing. Search and rescue teams are currently searching for 10 more people.
Conditions remain unsettled in the region, with heavy rain and thunderstorms disrupting a cricket test match between South Africa and India. While rain and showers in western parts are expected to become lighter, central parts of South Africa are expected to experience significant heavy rain with the potential for further intense showery downpours.
In Vancouver, stormy weather over the Christmas period led to ferry cancellations and considerable power outages. Winds exceeded 100km/h for northern Vancouver Island overnight into Christmas Day, affecting about 8,000 people on the island and 2,500 in Saanich. Further strong winds are still expected, with gusts potentially reaching up to 120km/h on Vancouver Island before easing.
