Freek Electrical Storms kills 4 in Kwazulu Natal

At 16h30 the SAWDOS received the following tweet: TimOrch @SAWDOS1 very dark and gloomy in PMB,any chance of a storm this evening?

SAWDOS replied: SAWDOS1 RT @TimOrch: Thunderstorms a possibility. Let's see if they develop. - SAWDOS

At 16h45 TimOrch confirm:  Some distant thunder and lightning in the Pmb area- more Richmond than Pmb though.

The following reports were also received:

SAWDOS1 RT @tomboyamelia: @kwambocari 18h26 @sawdos1 still? Heard the thunder, but nothing close to us here.

SAWDOS1 RT @KwamboCari: 17h48 Seriously...Its Storming...I kid u not... #DurbanSouth @SAWDOS1

SAWDOS1 RT @chicaroona: 17h15 HUGE lightning in PMB at the moment with just a few drops of rain

SAWDOS1 RT @JennzaLynn: 17h01 @SAWDOS1 RTWO first spring storm heading toward Pietermaritzburg *happiness* @Sheldonstrydom

SAWDOS1 Dee de Souza writes: 5.22pm, Assagay valley..... Our first thunder rumbles sounding towards the NW of us and overhead now.

SAWDOS1 Jenni Holtz Gardiner writes: The lightning in Pmb this afternoon was hectic!! 31 minutes ago

Sadly the storms in Kwazulu Natal claimed the lives of 4 people this afternoon:

Netcare911SA tweeted: Four people have died in a lightning strike in the Mama Lala area of Sweetwaters Pietermaritzburg this afternoon.

Thanks for all the updates relating to thunderstorms and lightning. We should be vigilant when we hear thunder and see lightning. Let us warn our communities of the approach of thunderstorms. There is really no better way then real time weather observations by the public when it comes to reporting severe weather in South Africa. Not having excess to free weather radar images leaves the general public vulnerable when thunderstorms approach .

Do not assume that the SAWDOS know for certain that severe weather is approaching or has occurred. We want to hear from you!!

Finally: If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to the storm to be struck by lightning. When thunder roars go indoors!!!

- SAWDOS