Mathieu Rouault et al: Top

Rainfall above land
Flood producing rainfall occurred over the Western Cape at Tygerhoek (34.15 S 19.9 E) on 14 December (93 mm)(Figure 5a) and over the Eastern Cape at East London (33.02 S 27.50 E) on 15 December (98 mm) (Figure 5b). Also on the 15, tornadoes were reported at Hogsback (32.35 S, 26.56 E) and in the city of Umtata (31.35 S, 28.47 E). Tygerhoek is a predominantly winter rainfall area and heavy summer rains are rare. Thus, the flood producing rainfall of 93 mm on the 14 accounted for 90 percent of Tygerhoek's rainfall for December. The flooding on 15 December (98 mm of rainfall) at East London represents 58 percent of the month's total. Unlike Tygerhoek, East London receives more rain in summer than in winter on average. The tornado event in Umtata received extensive media coverage because it threatened the life of South Africa's president at the time, Nelson Mandela. Eleven people were killed and buildings were destroyed in a 70-km radius

Rainfall above land

Flood producing rainfall occurred over the Western Cape at Tygerhoek (34.15 S 19.9 E) on 14 December (93 mm)(Figure 5a) and over the Eastern Cape at East London (33.02 S 27.50 E) on 15 December (98 mm) (Figure 5b). Also on the 15, tornadoes were reported at Hogsback (32.35 S, 26.56 E) and in the city of Umtata (31.35 S, 28.47 E). Tygerhoek is a predominantly winter rainfall area and heavy summer rains are rare. Thus, the flood producing rainfall of 93 mm on the 14 accounted for 90 percent of Tygerhoek's rainfall for December. The flooding on 15 December (98 mm of rainfall) at East London represents 58 percent of the month's total. Unlike Tygerhoek, East London receives more rain in summer than in winter on average.

The tornado event in Umtata received extensive media coverage because it threatened the life of South Africa's president at the time, Nelson Mandela. Eleven people were killed and buildings were destroyed in a 70-km radius

Fig. 5a: SAWB rainfall for 14 December from 100 stations. Heavy rainfall occurred over the South and flood at Tygerhoek.The colour bar is the daily total in mm/day and the maximum rainfall (max) which fell in the heavy rainfall locations appears in the bottom right-hand corner.

Fig. 5b: SAWB rainfall for 15 December from 100 stations. Tornado locations are shown as H for Hogsback and U for Umtata. Heavy rainfall occurred over East London (EL). The colour bar is the daily total in mm/day and the maximum rainfall (max) which fell in the heavy rainfall locations appears in the bottom right-hand corner.

Email: rouault@physci.uct.ac.za

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