South African Weather Service Issues Alerts as Severe Conditions Hit Parts of the Country
The weather warnings in South Africa follow the deaths of about a dozen people and the destruction of properties that occurred after damaging winds, heavy rainfall, and at least two tornadoes hit the coastal province of KwaZulu-Natal.
Twelve people have died in flooding caused by torrential rain on South Africa's eastern coast.
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued alerts warning of severe weather conditions across parts of the country.
In Northern and Western Cape, the weather is expected to be very cold, wet and windy on Thursday, June 6. “Maximum temperatures are expected to be below 10°C (50°F) in places over the Namakwa Region (Northern Cape) as well as the Witzenberg municipality of the Western Cape,” the SAWS statement says. It adds that the weather conditions may result in the loss of crops and livestock, and the weak and frail will be vulnerable due to the chill.
In Eastern Cape, damaging winds are expected from Tuesday, June 4, until Wednesday, June 5. A gale force wind, “with gusts reaching 50 knots at times,” is expected to hit parts of the south coast and the interior, leading to damage of properties, localized disruption of power, difficult driving conditions and disruption to port at-sea activities.
These warnings follow the confirmed deaths of about a dozen people and the destruction of properties that happened after at least two tornadoes hit the coastal province of KwaZulu-Natal in Eastern Cape. Trees were forcefully pulled down and homes were destroyed in Tongaat, an area north of Durban. Powerlines were also uprooted and roads have been blocked by debris.
The SAWS, in another statement, gave confirmation that two tornadoes indeed hit parts of KwaZulu-Natal. According to the statement, “A large weather system, namely a cut-off low, affected large parts of the country since the weekend and was responsible for the heavy rainfall and significant flooding over parts of the Eastern Cape.” This system, the statement adds, “moved over the western and central interior of the country on Monday, [June 3] and resulted in cold air that invaded the central and western interior,” while “the eastern parts of the country, particularly KwaZulu-Natal, experienced warm and moist conditions.”
Atmospheric conditions became unstable on Monday, after the cold and warm air masses met in KwaZulu-Natal, resulting in a line of thunderstorms which eventually caused, “damaging winds, small hail to large hail in places, heavy rainfall and at least two observed tornadoes,” the statement continues.
The statement also addresses questions from local media about whether these occurrences are associated with climate change. “South Africa does get tornadoes from time to time, particularly when large and intense weather systems affect the country,” the statement said, adding that, “It is safe to say that, although a singular weather event cannot be directly correlated to climate change, climatologists agree that these type of weather systems may become more frequent and intense in the future due to a warming climate.”
Videos circulating on social media show a glimpse of the material destruction the tornadoes have caused, potentially displacing hundreds of households. According to Eyewitness News, residents said the tornadoes started as little hailstones and grew larger than golf balls.
“My property is damaged, it has no roof, no windows, no doors. I don't know what to say but hopefully, the municipality will help us. But I don't know where they are going to start if they try to help us here,” Siya Ndlazi, a resident of Magwaveni township, north of Durban, told Eyewitness News.
In a press statement, President Cyril Ramaphosa offered his deep condolences to families who lost loved ones to the severe weather conditions. The president also urged the public to keep safe by heeding weather alerts and exercising greater care and restraint on the roads in poor weather conditions.
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