Tornadoes – When and where they strike in South Africa
Although tornadoes are not common in South Africa, the South African Weather Service (SAWS) explains why and when they do occur.
Over the past three days, two tornadoes have touched down on South African soil, making national headlines.
The first, on Saturday afternoon, was seen on a farm between Utrecht and Vryheid in Northern KwaZulu-Natal, near Bloodriver. Video footage of the tornado was shared across social media and news platforms.
The second struck on Monday afternoon in Soweto, damaging close to thirty homes. A cell phone video of the Soweto tornado was also sent to newsrooms.
Although tornadoes are not common in South Africa, the South African Weather Service (SAWS) explains why and when they do occur.
According to a post on the SAWS website, tornadoes can occur anywhere where a thunderstorm is possible.
Analysis has shown that most of the recorded occurrences happened in Gauteng, the Free State, KwaZulu-Natal (along a geological line between Pietermaritzburg and Ladysmith) and the northern region of the former Transkei. These areas are mostly mountainous.
‘Some 65 percent of South African tornadoes are classified as F0 or F1 (light damage), while more than 90 percent are classified as F0, F1 or F2 (considerable damage) or less. The tornado which occurred at Harrismith on November 15, 1998 was classified as F2 and the Mount Ayliff tornado which occurred in the Eastern Cape on January 18, 1999 was classified as F4,” read the post.
Tornadoes are most likely to occur in mid-summer from November to January, while a large number have been recorded in early summer, September to October. Most of the tornado events on record happened between 4pm and 7pm.
Click here to read about some of the worst tornadoes in South African history.
