The City of Roses is known for its varying weather conditions, often a point of conversation. In recent weeks, disruptive weather has once again been the talk of the town, drawing renewed attention to just how unpredictable the local climate can be. This is something DJ Hefer captures well. He has given South Africa a real glimpse into how local weather conditions unfold, especially during the recent severe weather that swept through the province.
The avid storm chaser has documented extreme weather conditions on his page, Storm Report SA, since 2014. He says he started the page as a hobby, but it quickly gained traction, and today it is followed by more than 600 000 people worldwide. “My main goal has always been to document what’s happening on the ground, compare it to forecasts, and warn people in the immediate area when severe weather is approaching.”
From his perspective, severe weather is not necessarily intensifying at this point; rather, what has changed is the way these events are documented and shared. “With smartphones and social media, severe weather now reaches a much wider audience and is captured from many different angles, giving the impression of an increase even when long[1]term trends remain similar.”
In his observations, DJ has noticed an increase in severe thunderstorm potential in the area. “For the past few years we mainly had long-lasting rain events rather than classic severe storms, but this year the atmosphere has been far more favourable for stronger storm development,” he explains. He says the current weather patterns remind him of 2016, when Bloemfontein was hit by a major hailstorm in October.
“While storms in October and November are not unusual, they have arrived a little earlier this year. Historically, our biggest storms tend to hit in January and February, so the season is still far from over.”
South African Weather Services (SAWS) forecaster Thabo Magoro says Bloemfontein should be experiencing warm weather conditions until Sunday (7/11), with some isolated showers and thundershowers from Thursday (4/11) until Sunday. “There will not be any disruptive weather expected over Bloemfontein; however, we are expecting severe weather over the northern and eastern parts of the country.”
SAWS forecaster Lehlohonolo Thobela urges residents to take weather warnings seriously, as they play a vital role in reducing the risk of injury, loss of life, or property damage:
- Monitor updates from official sources.
- Seek shelter when thunderstorms approach.
- Move vehicles under cover where possible.
- Avoid driving through flooded roads.
- Report fallen trees, flooding, or damage to municipal authorities
Gypseenia Lion
