THUNDERSTORMS, POSSIBLY HAIL OVER WESTERN PARTS

MBABANE – There were thunderstorms in places in the western part of the country yesterday.

The Swaziland Meteorological Service Department Senior Forecaster, Sipho Mashwama, said the thunderstorms were witnessed in Hlatikhulu and Nhlangano, where there is a slight possibility that they received hail.
He said their systems showed that the clouds were cold, which might have caused the hail.

Mashwama said the storm then moved to Mbabane, Mankayane, Oshoek and other areas in the west where it lasted for some minutes. He said by 5.15pm, thunderclouds were moving towards Manzini, Sikhuphe and other areas which are close by.

“Tomorrow (today), we are expecting the very same conditions in the same places as today (yesterday). Tomorrow, the temperatures would be higher, which will increase the possibility of the thunderstorms. Temperatures will reach 34 degrees Celsius in Mbabane, 37 degrees Celsius in Manzini and 40-41 degrees Celsius in Lavumisa,” he said.

Mashwama said tomorrow the intensity of the heat would lead to the intensity  of thunderstorms and a possibility of hailstorms. He said the rain is expected to fall uniformly all over the country.
The southern African region has been hit by the serious absence of rains as the full effect of the drought has slowly been coming into full effect. South Africa and Swaziland have experienced set backs in agriculture rendering the sector unable to supply adequate food.

Over 10 000 cattle have been killed in Swaziland because of the drought, especially in the lowveld where the full force of the drought has been felt.
The Swaziland Water Services Corporation has also sprung into action as water levels have alarmingly gone down in the country’s rivers and dams and there has been talk of water rationing as the county looks into means  to mitigate the water crisis.

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