Mossel Bay experienced weird thunderstorms last night. (8 January 2013)

I have been living in Mossel Bay for the past 20 years and this is the first time that I experience 4 intense thunderstorms in one evening.  It all started at 15h20 yesterday afternoon when thunder and lightning were observed.  Intense and continues lightning were observed throughout the evening and early morning with the odd shower of rain.  The lightning strikes were intense and continued in the George, Great Brak River and Mossel Bay areas.  My observation reveals that the type of lightning  were mainly Intracloud Lightning or Sheet Lightning.  The most common type of discharge - lightning inside a single storm cloud, jumping between different charge regions in the cloud. Intracloud lightning is sometimes called sheet lightning because it lights up the sky with a 'sheet' of light. All or parts of the actual channel may be obscured inside the cloud, and may or may not be visible to an observer on the ground. Not to be confused with cloud-to-cloud lightning.

Observation reports were also received from George, Glentana and Mossel Bay  of severe lightning in the specific areas.

And while I am writing this article (12h10 SAST) it started to bucket down again in Mossel Bay.  An intense thunderstorm dumped 12mm of heavy rain in 10 minutes time in Heiderand, Mossel Bay but it is quite possible that the greater Mossel Bay received more rain.  Reports are coming in of localized flooding in parts of Mossel Bay.  Thunder and lightning is still visible and residents should take note that lightning is still active.  Conditions still conducive for further thunder and lightning storms today.  Stay safe and indoors.  The rule of lightning is quite simple:  If you can see lightning or hear thunder in the distance, seek immediate indoor shelter.  Every year people are killed or seriouly injured by severe thunderstorms despite advanced warning.  While some did hear the warning, others heard the warning and did not pay attention to it.

When thunder roars go indoors!