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2010-02-04 04:47:24 - Extreme Weather - South Africa EDIS CODE: ST-20100204-24790-ZAF
Date & Time: 2010-02-04 04:47:24 [UTC]
Area: South Africa, State of Eastern Cape, Qumbu area, Damage level: Heavy (Level 3)
Not confirmed information! Description: A severe storm struck the Qumbu area in the Eastern Cape on Wednesday, with some residents claiming it was a tornado, police said. Homes were damaged, trees uprooted and cars pushed around, spokesperson Mzukisi Fatyela said. "The police station commissioner of Qumbu told me he was informed that it was a tornado and police are checking on it." Qumbu is about 80km from Mthatha. The SA Weather Service said the storm had been forecast and there was a possibility of a tornado. "We did give a warning for a severe thunderstorm in that area today, so there was a possibility of it, but I cannot confirm it because I cannot get a hold of Mthatha radio," Pretoria forecaster Karl Loots said. By afternoon, the storm had edged into KwaZulu-Natal. Loots explained that tornados were "more common" in South Africa than people thought. "We get tornados primarily from November to December and sometimes into January and February. We have a number of tornadoes a year. It's just that they are not too strong or long-lived, but you do get the exception." Eastern Cape forecaster Pumla Goba told Sapa it was a category two storm. "There was a storm that passed over the area, but I don't think it reached a tornado category. There might be some confusion, but it was a big storm. "A tornado falls within category three and four. What might have happened was that there were strong winds and it might have been confused with a tornado."
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