Germiston: The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has confirmed that no significant damage was observed during an on-the-ground damage assessment of the tornado that occurred near Rand Airport, Germiston.
According to South African Government News Agency, the only impacts noted were broken tree branches at the golf course adjacent to the airport, along with signs of heavy rainfall from thunderstorms, which included puddles and muddy conditions. SAWS made this announcement on Thursday.
Community members in the area also confirmed that there was no structural damage or disruptive impacts associated with the tornado, which had been observed on social media.
Based on these findings, the SAWS has classified the event as an EF0 tornado. “An EF0 is the weakest category on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, with estimated wind speeds of 105 – 137 km/h,” the weather service explained. Tornadoes of this category typically result in minor damage, such as broken branches, shallow-rooted trees being pushed over, and light damage to roofs.
“While EF0 tornadoes are relatively weak, they remain dangerous weather phenomena, and the public is urged to always exercise caution during severe thunderstorms,” SAWS advised.