Why did hail fall in Durban today?

Residents in parts of Durban were caught off guard by large hail on Tuesday as severe thunderstorms moved across KwaZulu-Natal.

Hail was reported in areas including Montclair, The Bluff and Yellowwood Park, while heavy rain and strong winds caused flooding and disrupted roads in parts of the city.

The N3 near Durban was also affected by localised flooding.

Can strong thunderstorms produce large hail?

Hail forms high inside thunderstorms where temperatures are cold enough for water droplets to freeze.

The storm’s strong upward-moving air, known as an updraught, can keep ice particles suspended inside the cloud. As they move through the storm, the ice can collect more water and grow.

When the hailstones become too heavy for the updraught to support them, they fall towards the ground.

A particularly strong thunderstorm can therefore produce much larger hail than an ordinary shower.

Why did Durban see hail today?

Today’s weather provided the ingredients for severe thunderstorms across parts of KwaZulu-Natal.

SAWS had warned of severe thunderstorms over parts of the province, with the potential for localised damage and flooding.

The storms also brought heavy rain and strong winds to parts of Durban on Tuesday.

A cut-off low has also been linked to the unsettled weather affecting KwaZulu-Natal, with heavy rain, hail and strong winds reported in the province.

However, thunderstorms can remain highly localised. This means one suburb can experience large hail while another nearby area receives mainly rain.

Damage could be reported

Large hail can damage vehicles, roofs, windows and other property, depending on its size and the strength of the storm.

The risk becomes greater when hail falls alongside strong winds and heavy rain.