Watch: Tornado in Mpumalanga? Hail in Gauteng
The South African Weather Service has commented on footage doing the rounds on social media.
A weather phenomenon that has similarities to a tornado was caught on video in Bethal in Mpumalanga, yesterday.
AfriWx – a variety of weather resources – said in a Facebook post: “Incredible footage of a rotational supercell storm near Bethal, Mpumalanga, yesterday afternoon with a very convincing view of a tornado on the ground.”
It said debris flying around the base of the funnel indicates that a tornado touched down, but clarified that this has not been officially confirmed by the South African Weather Service (Saws).
“Summer storms are here and this is the time we start to see tornado developments around parts of the country. The Mpumalanga region between Standerton and Eswatini is notorious for tornado development.”
Bethal today pic.twitter.com/5d8EMzbTWP
— Road Angels Traffic Information (@Road_Angels_SA) November 13, 2023
@middelburgobserver Tornado, hailstorm sweeps over Mpumalanga #Middelburg #storm #tornado #bethal #standerton #hendrina ♬ original sound – MiddelburgObserver
Caxton Local Media contacted Saws, which confirmed that two of their forecasters, including the ‘Weather Guru’ Garth Sampson, looked at the footage. According to them, it is indeed a tornado, but no formal investigation into the matter is underway.
Saws communications manager Hannelee Doubell added that it seems the weather phenomenon occurred in an agricultural area.
Hail havoc
In other parts of the country, hail the size of golf balls was seen in Midrand and Sandton in Gauteng, and even at the Vaal Dam on the border of Gauteng and the Free State.
Yesterday’s travellers’ forecast by Saws did not indicate any impact-based warnings, but ‘partly cloudy becoming cloudy with isolated showers and thundershowers’ were expected in Johannesburg and Pretoria.
No impact-based warnings have been issued in today’s travellers’ forecast, which was updated at 04:30.
Midrand – N1 Highway: #Hailstorm pic.twitter.com/mnJHeb0cj9
— TrafficSA (@TrafficSA) November 13, 2023
Massive hailstorm in Johannesburg #SouthAfrica this evening 👀
Via: @malusitech pic.twitter.com/AracfReul4
— Volcaholic 🌋 (@volcaholic1) November 13, 2023
Impactful: Reports of golf ball-sized hail in Kyalami, north of Johannesburg, South Africa. 🇿🇦⚠️ #Hailstorm #Kyalami #Johannesburg #SouthAfrica pic.twitter.com/zCOnZxPZVV
— ChroniBuzz (@liv59224) November 13, 2023
#Hael op #Oranjeville by die #Vaaldam, nie iets wat ons sommer kry nie 13/11/23
📷Theresa du Toit pic.twitter.com/n8AM8J3Mzz— ReenvalSA (@ReenvalSA) November 13, 2023
@middelburgobserver The main street in Hendrina completely flooded due to recent storms #storms #flood #flooding #hendrina #mpumalanga #southafrica #severeweather #weather ♬ original sound MiddelburgObserver
Read original story on www.citizen.co.za
