Watch: Tornado or waterspout? SAWS assesses Ballito video
The recent tornado in Tongaat has heightened awareness and interest in unusual weather events across the region.
Ballito resident Hendrik Fourie sent The North Coast Courier a video of what he believed was a tornado that he filmed off the Ballito coastline on Saturday.
The tornado which swept through Tongaat on June 3, leaving devastation in its wake, has made the occurrence of this weather phenomenon of particular interest.
The North Coast Courier sent the video to Wisani Maluleke of the South African Weather Service for assessment.
“I have reviewed the video and compared it with our satellite and radar images of the ocean around Ballito.
“There were thunderstorms over the ocean on Saturday morning. Closely examining the images and comparing them with the satellite images, the conclusion is that it was a waterspout,” Maluleke says.
“Waterspouts forming over bodies of water can be associated with thunderstorms or cumulus clouds. Severe thunderstorms can produce waterspouts as dangerous as land tornadoes. They are a common occurrence in our ocean and come in two types: tornadic and fair weather. Tornadic waterspouts, associated with severe thunderstorms, can produce strong winds, high seas and dangerous lightning.
“They can be dangerous if they move from the ocean and hit land, though this is rare. There’s nothing to worry about at this point,” he adds.
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