Did that thunderstorm give you a fright, Cape Town?

So there I was, sitting at my desk, going about my morning routine when... bang, crash, wallop - a thunderstorm out of nowhere.

Like many Capetonians (I'm sure your community WhatsApp group was blowing up just like mine), I was taken by surprise as a thunderstorm rolled in, seemingly out of nowhere... especially after the havoc of the recent terrible storm we experienced.

I'd even hung up my washing, as the sun promised to get the job done on what was a relatively warm morning for mid-May in the Mother City.

I'm in the deep south, and my colleagues in the north and the Claremont area, also reported that the thunderstorm caught them by surprise. However, sunny skies prevailed in town itself. Weird.

So what actually happened?

A (lightning) bolt from the blue

Thunderstorms that appear to arrive out of nowhere are called single-cell thunderstorms or air mass thunderstorms. This was likely the case with what we experienced on Tuesday morning.

This happens when the Earth's surface experiences rapid, localised heating (which would explain the warm weather this morning).

While these types of thunderstorms usually take place in the afternoon, it is not uncommon for them to build up in the morning, as we experienced today in Cape Town.

Rain is also uncommon during single-cell thunderstorms, but I experienced some for a brief period after the initial bang, which had my dog and me wondering if we were under attack. Yes, we exchanged an awkward look.

Can we expect any more crazy?

Even weatherman Pete was taken aback!   

"Huge bang over my house, very unexpected, but a tongue of convection over the SW Cape. Not likely to cause much disruption or rain." 

But what's the outlook for the rest of the week? According to Pete, it is "possible" but quite hard to predict without radar. 

He further explained what today could bring: "An inland trough temporarily extends to the southwest while a high pressure area lies south around the country. A detached low-pressure system has developed over the South Coast with light rain in its immediate vicinity. A few scattered thunderstorm cells have also risen over the western interior, stretching over the Peninsula, and larger Cape Town and Boland, but no major rain is expected."

Staying safe during thunderstorms

Given the rapid nature of these thunderstorms, if you find yourself outside, please be aware of the following:

• Seek low ground: The higher up you are, the more dangerous it is, so ensure you are at the lowest point of the area you are in.
• Move away from tall objects: Avoid seeking shelter under a single tree, pole, or communication tower, as lightning strikes are more likely to hit those isolated objects.
• If you are swimming, get out of the water: Immediately leave the water source you are swimming in and head for safety.
• Don't bunch up: If you are out in the open with a group of people, spread out, as a lightning strike can affect everyone if bunched close together. A good distance is about 15 meters apart.
• Crouch, but never lie down: If you have no time to find a safe spot, squat as low to the ground as possible. Do this on the balls of your feet, tucking your head in. The reason you should not lie flat on the ground is that your exposure to ground current increases massively.

Stay safe out there, Cape Town.

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