Intense storm welcomed, but scary, say residents
A few residnets shared their first-hand accounts of their experiences
POLOKWANE – Chaos erupted in Polokwane yesterday afternoon as a massive storm hit the city leaving many roads flooded, others strewn with leaves and branches and knee deep hail in Flora Park.
The rain, which is most welcome as it provided some relief from the heat, caused the city to come to a standstill in some areas, with traffic backed up in certain areas as motorists tried to avoid pools of water in the streets, making it impossible to see where to drive.
The storm brought strong winds, bolts of lighting and roaring thunder with it as well as sheeting rain, despite no storm being forecast.
Review received many pictures and videos from residents who experienced the storm in different areas in the city as well as first-hand accounts of their experiences.
Charlotte Saayman, who lives in Welgelegen, says while driving from Peter Mokaba Staduim, they had to avoid “rivers” of water and they had to drive extra carefully. “I had to pick my daughter up from Virgin Active in Thornhill and a lightning bolt hit about 200m away from us, it was scary. My daughter was frightened,” she said.
Thelma Mphela, who lives near Seshego says the storm was terrible. Thelma’s car had to be towed away after water flooded her car causing mechanical problems. “There was so much water in the road and I got through one of the pools and my car just stopped working, I couldn’t switch it on,” she said. She says she is now carless and doesn’t know when her car will be fixed.
Magda Bronkhorst says the storm was scary but she is thankful because we need the rain. “The volume that came down was frightening and the wind and hail made me feel sorry for the homeless,” she said.
According to the South African Weather Service’s Forecaster, Edwin Thema, around 27.4mm of rain was registered from their rain gauge at the airport.
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