A tornado tore through parts of Pretoria East on Tuesday, leaving behind a trail of destruction and widespread power outages.
It’s raising concerns over severe weather conditions across Gauteng. Here’s what you need to know.
Tornado rips through Pretoria East
The City of Tshwane has assured residents that disaster management teams are on high alert, monitoring conditions and ready to respond to further emergencies.
The City of Tshwane announced on Tuesday night that it has deployed emergency response teams, including firefighters and other officials, to the scene in Montana, Pretoria North, where several buildings, vehicles, and other properties were damaged by a tornado.#PretoriaNews pic.twitter.com/h4zsM1CJCK
— Pretoria News (@pretorianews) February 19, 2025
Those affected by the storm are encouraged to report damages and seek assistance from local authorities.
Homes and Infrastructure Damaged
The tornado struck during an intense storm, uprooting trees and ripping off roofs. It caused significant damage to homes and businesses.
Footage shared on social media shows powerful winds lifting debris into the air, with residents scrambling for cover as the storm intensified.
Pretoria – #Tornado hits the Montana area around 16:30 today pic.twitter.com/saHrqatSdN
— TrafficSA (@TrafficSA) February 18, 2025
Parts of Moreleta Park, Garsfontein, and surrounding areas were hit hardest, with several homes suffering structural damage.
Emergency services have been deployed to assess the impact and assist affected residents.
Power restored after widespread outage
The storm also led to a major power outage, leaving thousands of residents in the dark.
The City of Tshwane confirmed that electricity has since been restored to most areas, though some repairs are still ongoing.
Technicians worked through the night to fix damaged infrastructure, with authorities warning of possible further disruptions due to unstable weather conditions.
Severe weather warnings
Residents are urged to remain alert as extreme weather conditions continue.
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) issued warnings for severe thunderstorms, heavy rain, and possible further tornado activity in Gauteng and surrounding provinces.
According to BusinessTech, SAWS has cautioned homeowners to secure loose structures, avoid unnecessary travel, and prepare for potential flooding.
“We are seeing a significant increase in severe weather events, and residents should take all necessary precautions,” a spokesperson for SAWS stated.
Weather conditions: What the experts say
Weather experts have also noted a growing frequency of extreme weather in South Africa, with tornadoes becoming more common in areas that previously saw little to no such activity.
HEADS UP| The SAWS has issued an orange level 5 warning for disruptive rainfall over Gauteng, North West & the north eastern parts of Free State. Take precautions. #BeSafe #BeWeatherSMART#saws #weatheroutlook #southafricanweather pic.twitter.com/HxmqM3Qbop
— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) February 19, 2025
Dr Christien Engelbrecht, lead scientist in Long-Range Prediction at Saws, tells the Daily Maverick that La Niña was currently present.
This means cooler-than-normal sea surface temperatures in the central and east-central equatorial Pacific Ocean
With more storms expected, South Africans are advised to stay updated on weather alerts and take the necessary precautions to stay safe.
