On Friday evening at approximately 6.30pm, a wind force of great magnitude coming from the direction of Beaufort West on the north-west side of the town, hit Aberdeen. A dark cloud traveling at a phenomenal speed moving low over Aberdeen became the forerunner to either ‘hurricane’ or ‘jet stream’ velocity winds. The incredible force of a ‘jet stream’ wind is able to sheer entire forests. The devastation to Aberdeen was quick and could not have lasted longer than 10 minutes and was followed by driving rain.
This ferocious wind appeared to curve in and out of areas of the town, as though it was bouncing around and not following a straight direction. The pathway of destruction began at the top of the Fonteinbos, moving across the golf course and uprooting massive trees in the Aberdeen Hospital grounds which are close to the exit from Aberdeen in the direction of the R61. In the photograph shown, it is awesome to see a person standing next to the height of the tree roots, pulled out of the ground by the wind’s sheer force of strength. The wind then followed an easterly direction towards the municipality grounds on the corner of Parliament and Porter Streets where Aberdeen’s power station is situated. Here the wind took off the roof of a building, breaking down walls, and uprooting an enormous gum tree which fell on top of the power station causing a general power outage to the town and surrounding areas.
This ferocious wind appeared to curve in and out of areas of the town, as though it was bouncing around and not following a straight direction. The pathway of destruction began at the top of the Fonteinbos, moving across the golf course and uprooting massive trees in the Aberdeen Hospital grounds which are close to the exit from Aberdeen in the direction of the R61. In the photograph shown, it is awesome to see a person standing next to the height of the tree roots, pulled out of the ground by the wind’s sheer force of strength. The wind then followed an easterly direction towards the municipality grounds on the corner of Parliament and Porter Streets where Aberdeen’s power station is situated. Here the wind took off the roof of a building, breaking down walls, and uprooting an enormous gum tree which fell on top of the power station causing a general power outage to the town and surrounding areas.
The wind then seemed to divide, blowing in a south easterly direction, through Porter Street doing damage to trees, and in Murray Street, opposite the N.G. Kerk, a tree was blown over next to the Kerksaal. Winds then appeared to bounce over the N.G. Kerk and uproot an enormous tree and concrete slabs in the grounds of the Aberdeen Heritage Archive & Tourism Bureau grounds. The force of the wind going south-westerly seemed to divide and find two pathways, one towards the cemetery on the south west side of town, where a wall was blown down and one south-easterly towards the corner of Rabie and Darling Streets, where telephone poles and trees were blown over. In Cathcart Street two enormous fir trees were uprooted and fell, narrowly missing two separate houses by centimeters.
In Brand Street the wall of the Karoo Moons was blown over, leaving trees growing alongside the wall still standing! In Thembalisizwe it was reported that a roof was blown off a house.
Due to the destruction caused by the tree falling onto the power supply lines on Friday 26th, electricity was only restored to parts of Aberdeen and surrounding areas on Saturday evening 27th between 6pm and 1am on Sunday 28th.
Mr Geoff Seamen and his team from the municipality with assistance from Graaff-Reinet municipality, worked throughout Friday night and all Saturday until power had been restored. This commitment to the town of Aberdeen, Lotusville and Thembalisizwe was gratefully appreciated.
Mr Geoff Seamen and his team from the municipality with assistance from Graaff-Reinet municipality, worked throughout Friday night and all Saturday until power had been restored. This commitment to the town of Aberdeen, Lotusville and Thembalisizwe was gratefully appreciated.
The uprooted tree in the municipality grounds also caused damage to water pipes on Friday 26th, and the flow of water to Aberdeen and surrounding areas was only resumed on Sunday 28th at about midday. Here too, Geoff Seamen assisted by municipal staff from Graaff-Reinet, were to be thanked for their ongoing work. It is remarkable that the severity of the wind did not cause injury to residents of the town.
As climates are changing over the globe, freak weather patterns are emerging world wide, and here in the Karoo, Willowmore, a two hour drive from Aberdeen, recently experienced 100mm of rain in 37 minutes causing extreme flooding to the area.
As climates are changing over the globe, freak weather patterns are emerging world wide, and here in the Karoo, Willowmore, a two hour drive from Aberdeen, recently experienced 100mm of rain in 37 minutes causing extreme flooding to the area.
Article By: Joan Tinker
Willowmore Flooding (10-Mar-2010)
A flash flood hit the town of Willowmore with 85mm of rain in 30 minutes.
A flash flood hit the town of Willowmore with 85mm of rain in 30 minutes.
Images Courtesy Of Justin Miles
Photo of Willowmore at the time of the flood taken
by Danie Liebenberg from the tower on Aasvoelberg
by Danie Liebenberg from the tower on Aasvoelberg
