The hailstorm occurred during the afternoon of Wednesday 16 November 2022. According to the Facebook page of Storm Report SA, it was around 13:45 when the hail hit and left most houses with destroyed windows.

Some of the comments from the Facebook community sympathise with the residents of Tweespruit, while others believe it is nature taking its course. A comment by Jenny Schneigansz states that she experienced a heavy hailstorm years ago. "The sound of the hail hitting the roof and the breaking glass is something I will never forget," reads her comment. 

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Martine Bornman commented that just before 17:00, they experienced a similar hailstorm in Petrus Steyn.

Lilian Hoffman Welthagen has offered her support and prayers to the community of Tweespruit. "So sorry for all who experienced damages. So scary. Pray for recovery and healing from the scary experience," reads her comment.

In the eastern Free State, concerns have been raised due to the amount of rain that has been received over the past few days. Concerns were mainly focused on the fact that the optimal planting time for crops is running out due to the continuous heavy rains. 

A farmer in the Bethlehem area, Hugo van Doornick, previously said that frost in early April is also a major concern, if farmers plant later this month. He said some of the farmers who were able to plant before the rains are now suffering waterlogging damage. 

ALSO READ: South African farmers can expect more rain

The head of economic and agribusiness research at the Agricultural Business Chamber, Wandile Sihlobo, said that in their Seasonal Climate Watch report last week, the South African Weather Service (SAWS) highlighted that the El Niño-Southern Oscillation is currently in a La Niña state, and forecasts indicate that it will likely remain in this state during the remainder of 2022 and early 2023. 

"A La Niña event usually has the strongest impact on rainfall during the mid-summer months. With the continued strengthening of the La Niña event, there is a high chance that it will have its usual effect on South Africa, generally above-normal rainfall and below-normal temperatures over the summer rainfall areas. This suggests a move from the weak La Niña state we anticipated a few months ago to a more normal state in the country and the region.

"The likely improvement in soil moisture from now until February 2023 is a welcome development because this period covers crop cultivation to pollination," Sihlobo said.

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