Severe storms threaten Roodepoort and broader Gauteng
Unstable atmospheric conditions bring intense lightning and heavy downpours across the province through to Thursday.
Juandre Vorster, a weather enthusiast also known as the Weather Hooligan, warns that Gauteng residents can expect active thunderstorm activity to remain over the province until Thursday afternoon, October 1, with some storms capable of becoming severe.
Roodepoort is one of the areas Vorster is watching particularly closely, together with the broader Johannesburg, Pretoria and surrounding Gauteng region.
The atmosphere has become highly unstable, and storms may develop rapidly. Residents should prepare for intense lightning, heavy downpours, strong gusts and possible hail underneath stronger cells.
El Niño influence creates severe storm risk
Vorster said a developing El Niño influence could create more heat-driven thunderstorms as hotter days combine with increasing moisture.
He explained that hot weather by itself does not create large hail, but when strong daytime heating combines with high atmospheric instability, deep moisture, powerful updrafts and favourable wind shear, thunderstorms can become considerably stronger. Those stronger updrafts are capable of keeping hailstones suspended inside a storm for longer, allowing them to grow before eventually falling to the ground.
“We need to pay particular attention to hot days followed by rapidly developing afternoon thunderstorms as we move deeper into the warmer season,” said Vorster.
He added that storms can be extremely localised – one suburb may experience a major thunderstorm while an area only a few kilometres away receives very little.
Unsettled, wet conditions are expected to persist through Tuesday and Wednesday, with conditions improving on Thursday.
