[imagesource: Caroline Rowbottom/ Facebook]

The sky over Cape Town put on quite a lightning show on Saturday.

“Did you see the lightning? I’ve never seen lightning during the day like this,” my sweet innocent partner said as thunder coiled in the high distance.

The rare electrical storm made one feel like they were in Johannesburg, where the loud displays of thunder and lighting are more prevalent.

A couple of locals managed to capture the intense lightning bolts being flung across the coast on Saturday, like this magnificent shot by local photographer Caroline Rowbottom:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Caroline (@caroline_rowbottom)

Thunder & lightning in Cape Town today pic.twitter.com/Lz7LNNh8fs

— SylviaJ (@SylviaJ56) April 27, 2024

Who had lightning shots planned for the day 🤷🏼‍♂️

Shot by the wife, some dramatic editing by yours truly. #lightning #capetown #capestorm pic.twitter.com/VR2F80a0jp

— Basil Parker (@basilparker) April 27, 2024

However, as pretty and cool as the strikes and booms might have been, Tabel Mountain was affected, with the bolts of lighting sparking several fires in the national park area.

On Sunday morning, SANParks Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) issued an update regarding the status of several fires that had ignited during the storm.

According to Justin Buchmann, Table Mountain National Park Fire Manager, “In the last 22 hours we’ve responded to five fires within Table Mountain National Park (TMNP), four of which are suspected to have started due to the inclement weather and lightning we experienced during the afternoon and late evening of the 27th of April 2024.

Cecilia Forest, Silvermine, and the Cape Of Good Hope (Cape Point) main road area were the most affected during Saturday’s electric display, per TimesLIVE. TMNP confirmed in their statement that these fires have since been contained.

On Sunday, a fire remained aflame above Skeleton Gorge and the Hely-Hutchinson Reservoir along the Back Table within the park.

Currently we have a very large fire which started on the Back Table which is burning towards Kirstenbosch. We have multiple teams up on the Back Table as well as within Kirstenbosch. We still have approximately 50 to 60 firefighters from NCC Environmental Services, Volunteer Wildfire Services, Working on Fire on the Back Table. We also have two teams down at the Cape of Good Hope monitoring the burnt area and will remain on the fireline throughout the evening …”

Hopefully, their hard work can pay off and the mountain can be restored ASAP.

TMNP cautioned hikers and runners and asked them to avoid the following areas within the park affected by the fires:

Cape of Good Hope: Hiking routes from Gifkommetjie to Circles Vlei and any trails originating from Olifantsbos, Sirkelvlei hiking trail, and the Link Road cycling route were closed until further notice.

Back Table and Skeleton Gorge – Table Mountain: All footpaths leading to the Back Table from Camps Bay and Hout Bay, Constantia Nek, Cecilia Forest, Kirstenbosch, and Orangekloof hiking trails were also closed until further notice.

The public has been urged to contact emergency services in the event of any emergencies or sightings of new fires at 086 110 6417 or the Newlands Dispatch at 021 689 7438.

[source:timeslive]