The Gauteng Weather and Storm Warning Thread!

[Hamish McPanji]

So there was tornadoes now in Ruimsig?

Some call them tornados , some call them tornadoes

 

[Pitbull]

Some call them tornados , some call them tornadoes

Google spell check

 

[Hamish McPanji]

Google spell check

Stop ruining my joke

/Slaps

 

[Pitbull]

Stop ruining my joke

/Slaps

/assumes the fetal position.

Only cause I'm cold and off to bed now

 

[LazyLion]

So there was tornadoes now in Ruimsig?

Sighted, not confirmed ...

 

[voldoverse]

but what we really need is a SHARKnado

 

[The_Librarian]

but what we really need is a SHARKnado

Sharks with frikkin' lasers included?

 

[voldoverse]

i see what you did there

 

[LazyLion]

Sharing fake weather warnings in South Africa could land you in jail

The South African Weather Service Amendment Act of 2013 states that it is against the law to publish or distribute “in any manner whatsoever any severe weather warning” which is believed or suspected “to be false or misleading”.

The South African Weather Service’s communications manager, Hannelee Doubell, told Africa Check that “a false or misleading message may, according to the South African Weather Service Amendment Act, ‘incite public reaction which may lead to the undue mobilisation of resources, public alarm or evacuations, or economic loss arising from such actions’.”

It is also against the law to impersonate or pretend to be an SA Weather Service official, or publish or distribute any severe weather warnings that “use the official corporate branding from the Weather Service, or corporate branding closely resembling that of the Weather Service”.

First offenders could be fined up to R5 million or be sent to prison for a maximum of 5 years, Doubell said. If convicted again, the person could be fined up to R10 million or sent to prison for a maximum of 10 years, or both.

When asked whether they would lay a complaint with the police, Doubell said: “We are looking into this at the moment”.

Africa Check asked the National Prosecuting Authority if anybody has been prosecuted for such an offence before. (Note: We will update this report when they respond.)

https://africacheck.org/spot-check/sharing-fake-weather-warnings-south-africa-land-jail/

 

[Unhappy438]

https://africacheck.org/spot-check/sharing-fake-weather-warnings-south-africa-land-jail/

News24 amongst other news outlets should probably be prosecuted then.

 

[Sinbad]

Sighted, not confirmed ...

 

[The_Librarian]

why not utilize cell broadcast functionality to push out warning messages to world+dog?

 

[Moosedrool]

News24 amongst other news outlets should probably be prosecuted then.

Geez imagine all the insurance companies.

 

[LazyLion]

The Gauteng Weather Twitter Feed is not run by the Official SA Weather Service.
The SA Weather Service simply used the word "sighted" meaning that members of the public claim they saw a Tornado.
The press release never used the word "confirmed".

 

[Sinbad]

The Gauteng Weather Twitter Feed is not run by the Official SA Weather Service.
The SA Weather Service simply used the word "sighted" meaning that members of the public claim they saw a Tornado.
The press release never used the word "confirmed".

SA Weather service media release
MEDIA RELEASE
COR-MEDREL-010.3 Medrel10aOct2017
Bolepi House, 442 Rigel Avenue South, Erasmusrand, 0181 Private Bag X097, Pretoria, 0001
Tel: + 27 (0) 12 367 6000 USSD: *120*7297#
Weatherline: 082 162 or 083 123 0500 www.weathersa.co.za sms line: *120*555* 3# (Dial)
Ms Ntsoaki Mngomezulu (Chairperson)
Vacant (Deputy Chairperson)
Dr Jonty Tshipa, PhD
Mr Rowan Nicholls
Prof Elizabeth Mokotong
Mr David Lefutso
Ms Sally Mudly-Padayachie
Adv Derick Block
Dr Keabetswe Modimoeng, PhD
Ms Nandipha Madiba
Dr Jasper Rees, PhD
Ms Judy Beaumont (DEA Rep)
Mr Jerry Lengoasa (CEO)
Adv Portia Matsane (Company Secretary)
Board Members
10 October 2017
Severe thunderstorms wreak havoc in Gauteng on 9 October 2017; further warnings for KwaZulu Natal and Eastern Cape on 10 October 2017
Severe thunderstorms with heavy downpours, strong damaging winds and large hail, hit parts of Gauteng and surrounding provinces on the afternoon of the 9th October 2017. Areas that were most affected were the West Rand District, City of Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipalities. There were also 2 sightings of tornadoes in Ruimsig (adjacent to Roodepoort and Krugersdorp) and Eloff, near Delmas (Mpumalanga). Other provinces affected were the eastern parts of North, West, eastern Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Limpopo. Extremely large hail (golf ball to tennis ball size) was also reported near Krugersdorp. Elsewhere in the Free State, a tornado was also observed near Bethulie yesterday.


That's pretty positive.

 

[Quey_Quick]

Geez imagine all the insurance companies.

Apparently they paid out claims to the value of R 500 million in the last week.

 

[LazyLion]

There were also 2 sightings of tornadoes in Ruimsig (adjacent to Roodepoort and Krugersdorp)

That's pretty positive.

I still only see the word "sightings"

Nothing "confirmed".

 

[Sinbad]

I still only see the word "sightings"

Nothing "confirmed".

So how would you confirm it? Sighting would be accurate enough for me provided more than one person saw it

 

[LazyLion]

So how would you confirm it? Sighting would be accurate enough for me provided more than one person saw it

If it was the "Krugersdorp News" who "sighted" it ... I would be highly sceptical.

 

[Geoff.D]

Not sure I understand why SAWS is so reluctant to record "sightings" of tornados these days? Afterall in the good olde days they would have had to accept a word of mouth account by an eye witness as proof of a tornado.

Now there are videos and photos to back it up? Especially if these are geo stamped (or whatever the correct term is), which they probably are. Most people do not disable notifications on the Camera Apps?