Severe hailstorm hits Klerksdorp, South Africa

A severe hailstorm hit the city of Klerksdorp, South Africa's North West Province on November 25, 2021, causing widespread damage.

The storm flooded roads and damaged the roofs of many homes and businesses.¹

This is the third destructive hailstorm to hit South Africa over the past 3 weeks.^{2, 3}

Yesterday's storm was brought by a cut-off low affecting western and central parts of the country with strong winds, heavy rains, and thunderstorms.

A cut-off low developing off the west coast on November 26, 2021, will influence the intensification of a surface trough over western parts of the country, the South African Weather Service (SAWS) said.³

This will result in strong to gale force winds over the western and central parts of the country as well as isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers.

However, widespread rain showers are expected along the south coast and adjacent interior of the Western Cape.

The cut-off low will move over the southern parts of the country on Saturday, November 27, maintaining a strong to gale force wind with rain and showers over the southern and central parts of the country.

Towards Sunday, the system will weaken as it begins to move away from the country, with showers and thundershowers persisting over the central to eastern parts of the country.

The South African Weather Service has issued the following warnings associated with this system:

IMPACT-BASED WARNINGS

• Orange level 8 Warning for COASTAL WINDS resulting in disruption to craft in small harbors is expected between Table Bay and East London.
• Yellow level 2 warning for WAVES resulting in difficulty in navigation at sea between Table Bay and Plettenberg Bay.
• Yellow level 2 warning for FLOODING resulting in localized flooding of susceptible roads, low-lying areas, and bridges expected along the south coast of the Western Cape.
• Yellow level 2 warning for SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS resulting in localized damage to infrastructure, settlements (informal), property, vehicles, livelihood and livestock is expected over the eastern parts of the Northern Cape, the western parts of the North-West and Free State Provinces, and the central and eastern interior of the Western Cape.
• Yellow level 4 warning for INTERIOR WINDS resulting in structural damage is expected over the Northern Cape, Western Cape western parts of the North-West Province, Free State and the Eastern Cape.

References:

¹ Pics and videos: Serious HAILSTORM hits Klerksdorp – The South African

² Hour-long hailstorm kills hundreds of ostriches in Aberdeen, South Africa – The Watchers

³ Severe damage after cricket ball-sized hail hits Lydenburg, South Africa – The Watchers

⁴ Cut-off low bringing strong winds, heavy rain and thunderstorms for western and central parts of the country – SAWS

Featured image credit: Janice D Jacobs, ReenvalSA