Free State administration has issued a Level 5 Warning for severe thunderstorms for eight hours. It will be in effect from 12:00 Hours till 20:00 Hours.
The warning was issued on Monday morning and is likely to affect ten different areas, including Dihlabeng, Maluti a Phofung, Mangaung, Mantsopa, Masilonyana, Matjhabeng, Naledi, Nketoana, Phumelela and Setsoto.Â
The weather department of Free State has issued an alert for heavy downpours leading to flooding of roads and bridges. There can be damage to infrastructure and agricultural activity disruptions over parts of Mangung, Lejweleputswa and Thabo Mofutsanyana districts today.
Thunderstorms are already being observed over parts of Free State. These weather conditions are expected to persist and develop into early evening. The areas where the recent alert is in affect were were recently affected due to thunderstorms.
Thus, the areas are vulnerable to bad weather, which is why the authorities have upgraded the alert from localised to significant impacts.
According to the official reports, Heavy rainfall leading to flooding is the main hazard. However they are not ruling out the possibility of strong winds and hail in places.
As per the weather experts, the people of the affected areas may experience the following affects of thunderstorms:
- Flooding of roads, low lying bridges and informal settlement.
- Damages to infrastructure
- Disruption to municipal and other essential services
- disruption of agricultural activities.
- Hampering mop-up operations
Meanwhile, the administration has urged the people living in the affected areas to maintain caution and stay with their families and friends. The administration have given the following instructions for the people living in the affected areas:
- Load WeatherSmart App,
- Scroll to last page and use two fingers to navigate the storm tracking application.
- If possible, stay indoors away from metal objects.
- Do not seek shelter under trees or tall objects.
- Do not go fishing or play golf, as both the golf clubs and fishing rods are a good conductor of electricity.
- Be aware that any combination of hail, strong winds and/or heavy downpours can prove dangerous.
