Hail, Chaos and Flooded Streets: Gauteng’s Sunday Storm Leaves a Trail of Destruction

Sunday evening started off like any other early-summer night in Gauteng, warm, unpredictable, and heavy with that familiar electric tension in the air. But within minutes, the province was thrown into one of the fiercest storms residents have seen this season.

By the time the clouds finally broke, parts of Johannesburg and Pretoria were unrecognisable: roads swallowed by water, gardens buried under sheets of hail, and motorists stranded in what looked more like icy rivers than city streets.

A Storm That Hit Everywhere at Once

Residents across northern, central and eastern Johannesburg reported the same story: the sky darkened, the wind picked up, and then came the downpour, a violent mix of heavy rain and hail that hammered rooftops and shattered the quiet of the evening.

Major roads were quickly overwhelmed, with some sections completely submerged within minutes. In Pretoria, the situation was no better. Locals posted videos of vehicles stuck in rising water, with motorists warning others to “turn around now” as some roads became impassable.

One Pretoria resident summed it up perfectly on X (formerly Twitter):
“It’s snowing stones and my car is going nowhere.”

Photos and Videos Flood Social Media

If there’s one thing Gauteng residents will always do, it’s document the chaos.

Within minutes, timelines were flooded with clips showing hail the size of marbles carpeting suburban gardens in white. Others captured fast-moving streams of water rushing down neighbourhood streets, carrying debris and leaving behind a trail of destruction.

Johannesburg’s northern suburbs especially around Sandton, Fourways and Midrand appeared to take some of the worst hits, with video after video showing hail stacking up almost ankle-deep in some spots.

Why These Storms Keep Getting Worse

While thunderstorms are nothing new to Gauteng summers, the intensity and frequency of recent storms are raising eyebrows and concerns. Weather experts have long pointed to climate variability and the growing unpredictability of seasonal rainfall patterns.

Gauteng, sitting on the Highveld, is notorious for dramatic summer storms but many residents agree that this year’s weather feels harsher and more erratic.

Communities Step Up Amid the Damage

Despite the destruction, the spirit of Gauteng shone through. Neighbours helped redirect traffic around flooded sections, while others assisted stranded motorists and cleared blocked drains to stop water levels from rising further.

One video making the rounds shows an entire street working together with brooms and shovels to push water away from homes, a snapshot of resilience familiar to many South Africans.

🌩️ Pretoria North – Duikweg 🌩️
Captured by Rachel de Beer

Heavy hail has left parts of Pretoria North covered in thick ice, with several roads blocked and vehicles unable to move.

📍 Image Source: We Are South Africans#PRETORIANORTH #GAUTENGWEATHER #HAILSTORM #WEATHERUPDATE pic.twitter.com/ZvixDqwndQ

🔞 SA911 (@Zulu72944051488) December 1, 2025

Massive respect and gratitude for the @CityTshwane #FireandRescue Service. The floodwaters were terrifying, but your team was phenomenal. For a moment we thought it’s over. pic.twitter.com/KQP5xKQ7Ej

Tebza Ngwana (@FillaAgent) December 1, 2025

It got stronger. Luckily, no hail dents on the car. #storm #jhbeast #ortambo https://t.co/DBr0UKicJv pic.twitter.com/1I7GJztjoV

cap♑️ (@mosmooches) November 30, 2025

Pretoria
Gauteng

Footage: #SATrucker pic.twitter.com/I39AOPEnVq

🔞 SA911 (@Zulu72944051488) December 1, 2025

Hail hail, Pretoria pic.twitter.com/r75bYi5FRK

Poplove aka Mokone (@PoppieLegodi) November 30, 2025

This is what it looked like😭😭😭😭 Horrific drive! #hail #storm #johannesburg #KemptonPark https://t.co/2xlpXDD9VH pic.twitter.com/oRVBzaLoMh

cap♑️ (@mosmooches) November 30, 2025

Biggest hail I have ever seen after that storm in Johannesburg pic.twitter.com/StRbjkM1vL

Scouse_Bear890 (@Dov_Bear) November 30, 2025

This dramatic photo captures hail cascading down like a frozen waterfall in Johannesburg during tonights massive storm!! Summer in Joburg just got icy… who else is dealing with this chaos? Drop your hail pics/videos below! #JoburgHail #HailStorm #SouthAfricaWeather pic.twitter.com/8FSiJbAuF7

Jacob Teeger (@JacobTeeger) November 30, 2025

This Is a Developing Story

Authorities are still assessing the extent of the damage, and more information is expected as cleanup efforts continue. For now, residents are urged to stay cautious, avoid flooded roads, and report any infrastructure damage to their local municipalities.

If you have photos or videos of the storm, share them responsibly, they help paint the full picture of what communities are facing.

{Source: The Citizen}

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com