Inwoners van die Madunda en Jeppes Reef-nedersettings in die Nkomazi-streek in Mpumalanga het begin om die stukke van hul besittings op te tel na die verwoestende storm wat gisteraand in die gebied losgebars het. Talle mense is dakloos gelaat, terwyl van die inwoners ook beseer is. Die dak van 'n plaaslike skool is afgeruk. Die Nkomazi-munisipaliteit het vanoggend begin om die skade te beraam en slagoffers te help. Die storm volg skaars 'n maand nadat oorstromings aansienike skade in die gebied aangerig het. Die Mpumalanga-regering het die munisipaliteite wat deur oorstromings geraak is, tot rampgebiede verklaar. Die skade wat aan huise en die infrastruktuur aangerig is, beloop reeds byna 'n half-miljard rand.
In Limpopo is twee mense dood in gisteraand se verwoestende storm by Malamule. Honderde mense is dakloos gelaat. Rampbestuurspanne moet nog in twee gebiede wat deurgeloop het, ontplooi word. In Mopani is 300 huise, 'n skool en vyf winkels in die storm beskadig.
- RSG Nuus + Google Maps
SAWDOS - The above satellite image by Eumetsat indicate the Multi-Sensor Precipitation Estimate (MPE) product that consists of the near-real-time rain rates in mm/hr for each Meteosat image in original pixel resolution. The MPE is most suitable for convective precipitation. Applications and Users: Operational weather forecasting in areas with poor or no radar coverage, especially in Africa and Asia. This image yesterday afternoon reflect heavy rain in Limpopo, Mpumalanga and Kwazulu Natal.
No severe thunderstorm warnings was issued by the SAWS for the above provinces. The SAWDOS however issued the following observations:
NOTE: Heavy rain between 35 - 50 mm an hour possible in the eastern parts of the Northern Province and North Eastern Kwazulu Natal judging from the above satellite images. Intense cloud-base in these areas. See top satellite images. A report received from our weather observer in Hluhluwe reported thunderstorms and lightning in the area at 16h24 this afternoon.
SAWDOS Twitter Messages:
SAWDOS1 RTSO - Isolated thunderstorms currently active in the LImpopo and Mpumalanga provinces. - SAWDOS
22 hours ago · reply · retweet · favorite
SAWDOS1 RTSO - Lightning and thunder again in the Hluhluwe area - Obs Gerrit
21 hours ago · reply · retweet · favorite
SAWDOS1 RTSO - Thunderstorms still active in the Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces. - SAWDOS
18 hours ago · reply · retweet · favorite
SAWDOS1 Heavy rain between 35 - 50 mm an hour possible in the eastern parts of the Northern Province and North Eastern Kwazulu Natal - SAWDOS
17 hours ago · reply · retweet · favorite
SAWDOS1 18h45 Eumetsat Satellite Image: Heavy rain Limpopo and Kwazulu Natal twitpic.com/8ik0p0
17 hours ago · reply · retweet · favorite
SAWDOS1 Rain now moving into the northern parts of Mpumalanga. Heavy rain possible in areas. - SAWDOS
16 hours ago · reply · retweet · favorite
Now why mention all this here? The only reason is that it shows how important real time weather observers and real time reports are. Both the SAWS and SAWDOS mentioned heavy rain in Limpopo, Mpumalanga but nobody mentioned any severe thunderstorms accompanied by strong winds. The SAWDOS also include the North Eastern parts of Kwazulu Natal after receiving a real time report of thunder and lightning in the Hluhluwe area. It is therefore very important that members of the public should become real time weather observers. You do not need a degree in meteorology (I do not have one.) to become a real time weather observer. Lives can be saved if communities have enough real time observers on the ground. All you need is a cellphone that can send a SMS message and the will to do something for your community and you on your way. Maybe I should write an article on how to assist your community before, during and after a severe thunderstorm has struck. It is becoming more difficult to forecast intense and severe thunderstorms accompanied by strong wind due to the lack of weather information available to the general public in South Africa. We must now look after ourself and protect our communities against severe weather. If we're not going to do it on our own nobody else will do it. Two people died last night as a result of a severe storm. Could they have been saved if there was several real time weather observers active in the effected areas?
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