The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has concluded that the wind phenomenon experienced in Hanover Park was a landspout after conducting a thorough analysis of the weather conditions during the event. While resembling a tornado in its rotation and potential for damage, a landspout is smaller and weaker in scale, originating from the ground up rather than descending from a cloud.
The assessment of meteorological conditions and the extent of damage caused led to the classification of the Hanover Park landspout as an EF-0, with its strength determined by the severity of damage to structures and trees. This rating system, known as the Enhanced Fujita scale, provides an estimate of wind speed.
Notably, the SAWS acknowledged additional wind-related damage across Cape farms and announced plans for further investigations into these incidents.
As Cape Town grappled with wet and windy conditions, a robust cold front hit the south-western areas of the Western Cape on August 25, 2023. This marked the third cold front in a series impacting the region, contributing to a stretch of chilly, blustery, and rainy weather conditions throughout the preceding weekend.