Rain interrupts tea

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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Filename: Red Umbrellas Cathedral Peak Hotel Drakensberg.jpg
Copyright: © 2005 Andrew Haliburton, All Rights Reserved
Image Size: 3863x2582 / 12.8MB; Africa Afrika Andrew Haliburton Cathedral Peak Cathedral Peak Hotel Cumulonimbus DK-010 Drakensberg Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Hiking Kodak E100VS KwaZulu-Natal Nikon AF Nikkor 24-85mm f/2.8-4D Nikon F100 Orographic Quathlamba Rain Red Red Umbrellas South Africa Storm Sudafrika Summer Thunderstorm Tourism Travel Trekking Ukhahlamba Umbrella Weather uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park
Contained in galleries: Drakensberg

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.