Severe thunderstorm hits South Africa by Rob McElwee
A violent storm broke out across KwaZulu-Natal over the weekend killing at least eight people and injuring many others.
This freak storm was described by residents as one of the worst storms in living memory. Trees were uprooted, roofs were torn off and some places there were reports of water mains bursting. At least four people were killed by lightning strikes and more than 2000 households were affected by the intense storm. The worst affected areas were Ndwendwe, Pietermaritzburg and Dalton, where authorities set up temporary tents to accommodate the homeless families.
This violent storm comes after a series of similar storms that have struck the province over the past few months causing much damage and loss of life.
Over much of South Africa, summer (mid-October to mid-February) is characterised by hot and sunny weather, often with afternoon convective thunderstorms that clear away quickly. However, active cold fronts associated with low pressure systems can sometimes give rise to intense thunderstorms that occur during the day or night and cause a lot of damage. The storm in KwaZulu-Natal over the weekend was one such event.
