Hailstorm breaks power poles, damages homes in South

A severe hailstorm in the south caused damage to at least two houses at Keetmanshoop as well as in the Karas Mountains yesterday afternoon, while breaking large power poles and ripping them to the ground. Farmers say the hails even killed birds. At the same time, the weather office warned again against severe storms today in the eastern parts of the || Kharas Region, as well as in the Omaheke and Otjozondjupa regions.
Hendrik Steenkamp of farm Spitzkop-Oos, 40 km northeast of Keetmanshoop, told said the roof of his house had been torn down, while the ceiling had also been torn out in some places. He believes the damage should not exceed N $ 500 000. "The storm was so severe, it killed some of the wild Southwest parakeets. Others' feathers were cut off and they walked around here. "The leaves of the bushes were broken down and the grass was also cut flat - it looks like when it was grazed on," he said. He says a day later, however, it seems that the grass is already starting to get a "greenish gleam". A camel thorn tree on Spizkop East, which Steenkamp believes must have been about 100 years old, was also completely uprooted. "The hails were not very big, the biggest ones were like pigeon eggs," he said. About 12mm of rain was recorded. Steenkamp says the storm approached them with dark clouds from the West at around 13:00 yesterday afternoon, which made it look like late afternoon dusk. He says initially there was a dust storm, which then turned into a hail and rainstorm with a very strong wind. Steenkamp says he was grateful he has insurance. About 15km outside Keetmanshoop, solid blocks of ice were taken down in riverbeds. Steenkamp says this happens when it rains and hails and the rivers start flowing - then the hail floats on top of the water and collects in large quantities. On the Facebook page Rain in Namibia, Rina Booysen also shared photos of her house in the Karas Mountains whose windows were blown off by "hail as big as a golf ball".