Durban

Lightning is seen across the night sky during a thunderstorm in Durban on Tuesday night.
Image via Twitter
@Desiree_Laverne

‘The apocalypse?’: Forecaster explains Durban’s ‘weird’ weather

Durban was hit by hot, gusty winds and colourful lightning strikes on Tuesday night – but a weather forecaster claims it’s nothing unusual.

Durban

Lightning is seen across the night sky during a thunderstorm in Durban on Tuesday night.
Image via Twitter
@Desiree_Laverne

Durban’s bizarre weather conditions on Tuesday night – followed by widespread blackout across the city – left many residents feeling like they were stuck in an episode of the sci-fi series Stranger Things…

The city was plunged into darkness following the explosion of the Klaarwater power station, claimed a statement by the eThekwini municipality.

Accompanying the darkness were hot gusts of winds, a sharp increase in temperatures, and colourful lightning strikes across the sky.

ALSO READ: ‘Alien invasion’: Durban explosion unnerves residents [watch]

FORECASTER EXPLAINS BIZARRE DURBAN WEATHER

On social media, Durban residents expressed their confusion – and concern- at what was occurring. However, the SA Weather Service’s Julius Mahlangu explained it in simple terms.

He told IOL: “What happened was that there was a cold front approaching and met with dry winds from the inland area. This resulted in what we call a ‘Berg Wind’.

“This is winds from the interior of the country, from the high-lying areas around the Drakensberg.”

Klaarwater substation explosion durban
Bright flashes were seen above the skies of Durban – Photo: Supplied / Yusuf Abramjee

According to Mahlangu, the cold front has now passed through the region.

Another website STM Weather, described the Durban weather as a “heat burst” – a rare, atmospheric night-time occurrence characterized by hot gusty winds, and a rapid increase in temperatures associated with a dissipating thunderstorm.

TWEEPS HAVE FUN WITH MEMES

It’s no secret that Durbanites have put up with a lot in recent months; from looting to heavy floods to chemical spills on beaches across the coastline. And Tuesday night’s course of events added to the “chaos” experienced in the city

But many Durban residents saw the funny side of things, tweeting a range of memes on their bizarre theories.

From alien invasions to the apocalypse and everything in between, see what tweeps had to say…