Randfontein Tornado: Mop-Up Operations Continue After EF2 Twister

The Randfontein area in Gauteng is recovering after a tornado tore through on Wednesday, leaving behind significant damage and injuries. The South African Weather Service (SAWS) confirmed the tornado after analyzing the storm’s behavior.

Tornado in Randfontein today, let’s pray SAns…We want the rain but not this 🙏🙏🕯️🕯️🕯️#PutSouthAfricansFirst pic.twitter.com/dzHr23sej1

— Sadi (@sadi18032311) November 27, 2024

The tornado wreaked havoc in Randfontein, causing widespread damage to infrastructure. A vehicle was struck by a solar panel that flew off a roof, while apartment blocks and construction sites sustained significant harm. At least 21 people were injured during an incident at the Imphakasi Mall.

Adverse weather conditions, including the confirmed tornado, swept across Gauteng’s West Rand earlier this week. The South African Weather Service had issued warnings about heavy rains, gusty winds, and hail ahead of the storm.

SAWS provided insights into the tornado’s formation, explaining that a thunderstorm moving east across Randfontein interacted with a gust front channeled through a V-shaped valley to the north of the area. This intensified the outflow and triggered a ground-up rotation, ultimately resulting in the tornado.

Picture: Hope SA Foundation/X

“Based on the analysis, the storm has been classified as an EF2 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale,” SAWS reported.

SAWS explained that 76% of tornadoes between June 2016 and June 2021 were caused by the interaction between a strong gust front and a thunderstorm. Despite their connection to severe storms, predicting tornadoes remains challenging due to their small scale.

“Radar technology can detect tornadoes but only with very short lead times,” said a SAWS spokesperson. The service is exploring new technologies like Artificial Intelligence and machine learning to enhance forecasting capabilities.

Mop-up operations continue in Randfontein as residents and authorities work to recover from the devastating effects of this rare weather event.

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