The severe Gauteng hailstorms of 28 November 2013

Abstract

On 28 November 2013 devastating hailstorms moved through the Gauteng province during the late afternoon. Reports of golf ball to tennis ball size hailstones littered social media networks and online newspapers. The worst affected areas included the West Rand, Soshanguve and Mamelodi, where hail damaged roofs. Thousands of vehicles were also damaged as many people were on their way home from work on congested/busy roads fully exposed to the hailstones. Estimated losses of ZAR 1.4 billion were reported from the reinsurance industry. This event was associated with the trailing edge of an upper air trough at 500hPa accompanied by a surface trough and ridging high pressure at 850hPa. Irene sounding data showed a profile conducive to convective development with a wind shear pattern favourable for supercell thunderstorms. Radar characteristics associated with severe weather, such as hook echoes, bounded weak echo regions, mesocyclonic rotation, bow echoes and hail three body scatter spikes were also noted in numerous storms on the day.