Met dept warns of Mat North floods
THE Meteorological Service Department ( MSD) has forecasted that most parts of the country will experience torrential rainfall with possible flooding in some areas this week.
This comes as some weather experts have asserted that the rainfall pattern being experienced during this period of the year was last witnessed more than 20 years ago.
According to the MSD, Matabeleland North Province, Manicaland, northern parts of the Midlands and all Mashonaland provinces are expected to receive heavy rains until Friday. MSD also forecasted reduced rainfall patterns in Matabeleland South and Masvingo provinces.
The department’s head of public weather services, Mr Tich Zinyemba, warned of possible flooding in the areas during the period.
“The risk of flooding during the period remains high. It must be reiterated that when the rivers are in full and mature flood, they tend to be quiet. In addition, even if the rainfall has not fallen in the area, people should be aware that it could have done so upstream,” he said.
Mr Zinyemba said most of the rainfall activity during this time of the year occurs at night and urged members of the public to exercise extreme caution when approaching bridges at night. Meanwhile, data from MSD shows that the country has received normal to above normal rainfall with the exception of Beitbridge District, which has received normal to below normal rainfall. The data shows that the bulk of the country had, as at 25 January received more than 300mm of rainfall since 1 October last year with some areas having recorded above 500mm.
“Since the onset of the season, the bulk of the country has received accumulated rainfall totals greater than 300mm with the highest in the northern provinces.
Meanwhile, a climate change expert at Environment Africa Mr Colin Mutasa said the rainfall pattern being experienced during this period of the year was last seen a couple of years ago.
Mr Mutasa said the period between the end of December to the second week of January was usually dry but had been unusually wet this season.