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Elita Chikwati Agriculture Reporter
The country will continue to receive moderate to heavy rains associated with hail and thunderstorms in most areas until the end of this month, the Meteorological Services Department said yesterday. MSD meteorologist, Ms Lucy Samvura, said the period between January and March would see the whole country receiving normal rains with a bias towards above normal.

“From December 24 to December 29 the whole country is expected to receive moderate to heavy rains associated with thunderstorms and there are high chances of flash flooding.

“The public should exercise caution by not taking shelter under trees during thunderstorms as there is an enhanced risk of being struck by lightning,” she said. Ms Samvura said projections as of now showed that the last half of the season should have mostly normal rainfall across the whole country.

“ . . . Region 2 and 3 are expected to receive normal rainfall (in) contrast to the below normal rains which was forecasted in September. Region 1 still maintains what had been forecasted in September,” she said.

Regions 1 and 2 consist of Harare, the bulk of Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Mashonaland Central, north-eastern parts of Midlands, parts of Manicaland and Matabeleland North.

Region 3 comprises Matabeleland South, Masvingo, the bulk of the Midlands, the extreme southern parts of Manicaland and extreme southern parts of Mashonaland East.

“The rainfall spatial and temporal distribution is not expected to be as good. Hence meteorologically the season is expected to perform well (normal rainfall), while agriculturally the temporal distribution of the rainfall might not fully support agricultural activities in some areas,” she said.

The past week was characterised by thunderstorm activity and moderate to heavy rains across the country.

“Some of the notable falls measured at meteorological stations over the last week are Zaka 45mm, Chisengu 80mm, Logan Park near Harare Airport, 83mm, Harare Airport 71mm and Bulawayo Airport 40mm,” she said.

Principal meteorologist Mr Shingirai Nangombe said there had been an increase in extreme weather conditions that have become a norm every season.

“We have been experiencing extreme weather conditions every rainfall season as a result of climate change,” he said.