A moderate cyclone wreaked havoc in the town of Inanda and its surrounding areas, leaving a trail of destruction, injured individuals, and damaged homes.
Watch: Inanda struck by moderate cyclone
This unexpected weather event occurred in the wake of disruptive rain and thunderstorms that had already plagued KwaZulu-Natal earlier this week.
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) issued a warning to residents, particularly those residing along the south coast, about the possibility of heavy rain and potential flooding.
As predicted, the region of eThekwini was engulfed by heavy rainfall, leading to the blockage of several roads and creating further challenges for affected communities.
Videos capturing the intensity of the storm and the resulting damage quickly went viral on social media platforms. In one distressing video, the force of the “mini cyclone” is evident as roofs are blown away, prompting a plea for help from a frightened woman behind the camera.
Residents on social media also reported fallen power lines in certain areas, while VIP Security confirmed that numerous individuals had sustained injuries during the cyclone.
In response to the emergency, local fire departments and other emergency services swiftly mobilised to provide assistance to those affected by the cyclone.
Their immediate presence on the scene offered some solace to residents grappling with the aftermath of the devastating weather event.
Check out some of the videos that have surfaced on social media.
PLEASE NOTE: The content is shared on our platform for journalistic purposes. Swisher Post, its parent company, partners and affiliates shall not be held liable for any consequence that arises from the journalistic duties performed in sharing this content.
What is the difference between a cyclone and a tornado?
Since videos of the astonishing scenes that unfolded in Inanda surfaced, social media reactions have, for the most part, been divided on whether this was a tornado or a cyclone.
Here’s a comprehensive explainer of the difference between the two weather systems and the prevalence of each in South Africa.
Tornadoes and cyclones are both powerful weather systems characterised by swirling winds, but they differ in their scale, formation, and geographical prevalence.
Understanding the distinctions between these two phenomena can help clarify their specific characteristics and their occurrence in South Africa.
A tornado is a rapidly rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the Earth and a cumulonimbus cloud. It is typically characterised by a funnel-shaped cloud extending from the sky to the ground.
Tornadoes are often associated with severe thunderstorms and can cause significant damage due to their intense winds. They are relatively small in scale, typically ranging from a few hundred feet to a mile in diameter.
Tornadoes tend to form in areas with strong wind shear, which refers to a change in wind speed and direction with height.
On the other hand, a cyclone is a large-scale weather system characterised by low atmospheric pressure at its centre, around which air circulates counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere (opposite in the Northern Hemisphere).
Cyclones can cover hundreds of miles and are associated with sustained winds, heavy rain, and storm surges. They are classified into various categories based on their maximum sustained wind speed, such as tropical depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes (intense tropical cyclones).
Cyclones are typically formed over warm ocean waters and can move across vast distances, affecting coastal areas and sometimes inland regions.
Frequency of cyclones and tornadoes in South Africa
In South Africa, tornadoes are relatively rare compared to cyclones. Tornadoes tend to occur sporadically and are more commonly observed in the interior Highveld region, particularly during the summer months when conditions are conducive to severe thunderstorm development.
The provinces of Gauteng, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal have experienced tornadoes in the past. While tornadoes in South Africa are typically weaker compared to those in tornado-prone regions like the United States, they can still pose a significant threat to life and property.
Cyclones, on the other hand, have a greater prevalence in South Africa, particularly along the eastern coastline. The country is occasionally affected by tropical cyclones originating from the Indian Ocean.
These cyclones, often referred to as tropical storms or tropical cyclones, can bring heavy rainfall, strong winds, and storm surges to coastal areas of KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, and sometimes parts of the Eastern Cape.
While the impact of cyclones in South Africa is generally less severe compared to countries in tropical cyclone-prone regions, their effects can still be significant, leading to localised flooding, infrastructure damage, and disruptions to daily life.