The tornado activity occurred for a brief period according to the SA Weather Service.
Image: Edith Elliott DA Councillor Ward 37, Msunduzi / Facebook
The South Weather Service (SAWS) has said that there was a tornado that developed briefly in Bishopstowe, Pietermaritzburg amid the severe storm that lashed the province on Sunday.
In a post on their Facebook page, the SAWS said that after 5pm on Sunday, a weak storm formed near Bishopstowe, KwaZulu Natal, and stayed in one area.
“The curved landscape likely helped the storm rotate and even produce small hail.Soon after, stronger storms moved in from the west, increasing wind, moisture, and instability. This created the perfect setup for a brief tornado between 17:20 and 17:40. With sunset at 17:51 and changing (satellite) imagery, spotting the details in real time became more difficult.”
The SA Weather Service shared this graphic on Monday on the tornado.
Image: SA Weather Service / Facebook
Edith Elliott, ward 37 councillor in Msunduzi Municipality said in a post on Facebook that the tornado ripped through Bishopstowe, Lincoln Meade, Hayfields, and parts of Scottsville.
“This severe weather phenomenon caused severe damage to electrical infrastructure including tearing down power lines and trees, severe damage to Grimthorpe road low-lying bridge, massive cane damage in the Bishopstowe region, and mass power failures across Pietermaritzburg. Disaster management teams are on the ground in these affected areas to restore stability.”
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs said, through the Provincial Disaster Management Centre, it is working closely with the affected municipality to restore services and clear debris. No fatalities have been reported at this stage.
For more stories from The Mercury, click the link THE MERCURY