The restaurant terrace at Cathedral Peak Hotel is doused by a passing summer-afternoon thunderstorm. The Drakensberg escarpment is one of the highest rainfall areas in South Africa, receiving more than 1,500mm per year. About 85% of annual rainfall falls during the summer months (ie October to March), most of it directly as a result of orographic effects and the associated violent thunderstorms, like this one. They are typically preceded by a mid-morning build-up of fluffy cumulus cloud and fully developed by midday. Lightning and heavy rain is frequently accompanied by hail or sleet. Just as quickly, they dissipate by mid-afternoon, often setting the stage for spectacular sunsets. uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park, Kwa-Zulu-Natal, South Africa. Nikon F100. Nikon AF Nikkor 24-85mm f/2.8-4D. Kodak E100VS.
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