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Tornado rips through Free State farmland after severe storms
The Star
|November 26, 2025
A WEAK but dangerous EFO tornado touched down on a farm in Heilbron, Free State, on Monday afternoon.
A TORNADO has been confirmed in Heilbron, Free State, following severe storms. | GREG JOHNSON Unsplash
(GREG JOHNSON Unsplash)
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) said the tornado occurred between 3pm and 4pm in Heilbron, Free State, on November 24, after thunderstorms in the area “matured to be more severe in the afternoon’.
Forecaster Lehlohonolo Thobela, says conditions in the region were primed for tornadic activity.
“There were gusts around the region with identified shearing, convergence and moisture to form a convective cloud. Which resulted in a super cell at a later stage. The conditions were favourable for a tornado to form,” Thobela said.
SAWS noted that the tornado formed in a climatological hotspot.
This story is from the November 26, 2025 edition of The Star.
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