A severe thunderstorm roared into Gauteng on Tuesday and social media platforms are buzzing with scenes of voluminous clouds and moody skies.
The South African Weather Service predicted that severe storms would hit Bloemfontein, Gauteng, as well as parts of the Free State, Limpopo and other outlying areas – causing heavy down pour and small amounts of hail.
The forecast prompted the diversion of two flights scheduled to land at OR Tambo International Airport on Tuesday evening. OR Tambo GM Bongiwe Pityi-Vokwana told TimesLIVE that one British Airways and one Mango flight were forced to detour and land at nearby airport, Lanseria.
Late morning satellite image (08 January 2019) – Showers and thundershowers already observed over the central parts moving eastwards. Please be safe and take care. @ReenvalSA @huisgenoot @landbou @AgriSAOfficial @GrainSA @vslandbou @_ArriveAlive @OFMNews9497 @ecr9495 @AlgoaFMNews pic.twitter.com/WOrRntoisN
— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) January 8, 2019
Motorists were urged to be cautious as the persistent rain could cause flooding.
Watch:08/01/2019 19h00 TO:08/01/2019 23h00 Flooding- Persistent rainfall may result in road flooding in places over Gauteng tonight.
— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) January 8, 2019
Forecasts for Wednesday indicate that thunder showers will take place throughout the day, with temperatures reaching a high of 28° degrees and minimum of 15°degrees Johannesburg. Pretoria will experience a scorching 30° degrees maximum today with thunderstorms and rainfall.
Gauteng Today ‘s Weather overview: 9.1.2019 pic.twitter.com/ZOo1AbrQ0Y
— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) January 9, 2019
Thunderstorms are typical in Gauteng during summer, but that hasn’t stopped locals from pulling out their cameras to capture the moment the grey skies lit up.
Storm Report South Africa chased a storm of rolling and low-lying clouds in the south east area of Bloemfontein.
Storm Report SA/ Facebook/ Bloemfontein
Storm Report SA/ Facebook/ South East of Bloemfontein, causing a shelf of clouds
Footage below shows how low the shelf of clouds were during the storm chase, south east of Bloemfontein.
Strong winds caused damage to this roof in Edenvale.
A shelf of clouds forming.
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ReenvalSA captured a video of the storm rolling into Parys.
Storm net buite #Parys #Vrystaat soos hy aangerol het plaas toe – 18mm #reën wonderlik 📽️Lesley-Ann Faber @SAWeatherServic @sawx_sa_weather @venter_annette @debeer_anika @volksbladnuus @maroelamedia @Netwerk24 @JoelGuy_ pic.twitter.com/xFNGwxOgAT
— ReenvalSA (@ReenvalSA) January 8, 2019
Heavy rainfall hit parts of Pretoria.
It is #raining in #Wonderboom #Pretoria 📽️ Martin van Niekerk @SAWeatherServic @sawx_sa_weather @venter_annette @debeer_anika @RekordNewspaper @TshwaneWeather @TeamNews24 pic.twitter.com/YiAMiOuNrI
— ReenvalSA (@ReenvalSA) January 8, 2019
Pictures: Storm Report South Africa/ Facebook/ Cloud shelf at south east Bloemfontein.
