THE Tongaat tornado, which displaced thousands and claimed several lives last Monday, has been classified as an EF3 tornadic event.

With wind speeds of between 225 and 265km/h, this rating on the Enhanced Fujita scale is higher than normal for South Africa, with tornadoes usually reaching between EF 0 and 2 when occurring locally.

This is according to the SA Weather Service (SAWS), which said tornadoes, when occuring in South Africa, are usually very weak.

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The SAWS said several damage indicators were used to assess the tornado impact around Tongaat and further down towards the coastline.

Wider than it is tall, the Tongaat event was described by SAWS as a ‘wedge’ tornado, with radar data analysis revealing several features indicative of a supercell thunderstorm.

The weather service said at least two thunderstorms on the day in question could be classified as supercells, while a third, despite exhibiting such characteristics, did not persist long enough to meet the required time criterion.

A supercell thunderstorm is a severe thunderstorm that contains a rotating updraft (rising air).

Damage caused by an EF3 tornado typically includes roofs blown off buildings; collapsed walls; uprooted trees; large vehicles blown from their original position.

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