Combined marine storm and Saros spring high tide erosion events along the KwaZulu-Natal coast in March 2007

Abstract

A storm swell, coinciding with a Saros spring high tide, struck the KwaZulu-Natal coast on 19-20 March 2007. At its peak, the storm produced swells of ~8.5 m, caused significant coastal erosion and unprecedented damage to coastal property, estimated at more than one billion rand. Property damage resulted from unwise urban planning during the coastal building boom of the last two decades. Local exacerbating factors included construction too close to the high water mark, adverse coastal profile, and coastal modification. The town of Ballito, north of Durban, presented all these aspects and was the worst-hit area. The storm also destabilized the coast, consequently chronic coastal erosion will continue until a new equilibrium is achieved.