Informing humanitarians worldwide 24/7 — a service provided by UN OCHA

Namibia

Rainy, overcast conditions prevail

by Fifi Rhodes

WINDHOEK - The Namibia Weather Service said the tropical cyclone Funso, in the Mozambique Channel, caused thundershowers over the weekend in Caprivi, Kavango, Otjozondjupa, Khomas and Omaheke.

The Meteorological Service in its daily bulletin indicated it will continuously monitor the evolution of Funso and its direct and/or indirect impact on the local weather situation.

On the other hand, with the mid-level high pressure system still drawing moist-air over Namibia, Funso will continue depriving the country’s moist-air, and rainfall activities will diminish over most parts this week. Rainfall activities will mainly be confined to the northeastern parts of the country.

As from today onwards, a high-pressure system is expected to be centered over the country and yet another heat wave conditions will start to set in.

High temperatures and sunny weather will characterise the last part of the week over much of the country.

The Namibia Hydrological Service in the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry in their bulletin said light to moderate falls of rain were reported over the country, which resulted from tropical moist-air transported by the mid-level high.

Secondly, the very hot conditions over the extreme central-east and southern parts subsided, while the rainy activities in the northwest and coastal areas ceased as the system responsible for it, moved over the Atlantic Ocean.

It indicated that the levels in the Kunene, Kavango, Kwando and Zambezi rivers are further rising, but the flows in the Cuvelai oshanas from high local rainfalls earlier last week are receding.

“At this stage, there is no immediate major flooding risk anticipated,” it read. The Zambezi River at Katima Mulilo has increased from 1.90 m to 1.95 meter yesterday morning. Last year, the level on January 19 stood at 2.76 meters.

The Chobe River at Ngoma remained at 0.57 meter and the Kwando River in Kongola was also the last days on the 3.07-meter mark.

The Okavango River rose to 2.95 meter at Nkurenkuru and to 6.07 meters at Rundu and at Andara its rose to 1.87 meters by yesterday.

In the south, the situation in the Lower Orange River is normal. The latest readings for the large dams upstream in the Orange-Senqu Basin indicated no major inflows.

Last week Wednesday heavy rainfall was reported in the central area of the Cuvelai. A hydrologists Nancy Robson reported 70 millimeter from Odibo, and other readings were 41.4 millimeters for Onayena and 51.0 millimeters for Oluno.

The hydrological services further indicated that more rains fell last week in Oshikango (90.0 mm), Oshakati 79.8 mm, Okahao 79. 4 mm, Ondangwa 60.5 mm, Okongo 36.5 mm, Omuthiya 15.0 mm. NMS yesterday gave 36.8 millimeters for Katima Mulilo, with another report of 58 millimeters measured around the Caprivi Houseboat Safari Lodge.