Brace for week-long heavy rains – MSD

HEAVY rains are expected to pound the entire country for the next seven days starting today and ending next Wednesday, the Meteorological Services Department (MSD) has warned.

The weather agency said downpours exceeding 50mm are expected in Bulawayo, Matobo, Umzingwane, Insiza and parts of Mangwe in Matabeleland South and Umguza as well as Bubi in Matabeleland North.

In the Midlands, heavy rains of above 50mm are expected in Zvishavane, Shurugwi, Kwekwe, Kadoma, Chirumhanzu and Mberengwa while Masvingo’s Chivi and Gutu will also receive heavy rains.

Harare as well as Chegutu and Zvimba, Bindura, Shamva, Uzumba-Maramba-Pfungwe in Mashonaland West and Chikomba, Seke, Wedza, Marondera, Murehwa, Mutoko in Mashonaland East will also receive rains exceeding 50mm.

Other areas, although expected to receive heavy rains, will record below 50mm.

In a weather advisory statement yesterday, the MSD said the localised heavy rains will be characterised by lightning and hail storms in some areas.

It warned of flash floods and that the rains can blow off roofs and result in some trees falling due to strong winds.

The weather agency said the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) will combine with a cloud band coming from the western parts of the country to induce heavy downpours.

“The Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), which has been active over the northern parts of the country is expected to combine with a cloud band, which is moving from the west to the east covering the whole country.

“As a result, the combined effect of the two should result in precipitation amounts over 50mm in areas along the main watershed as indicated in the figure above,” said the MSD.

It encouraged members of the public to stay indoors during thunderstorms unless there is an emergency and warned motorists and travellers to avoid crossing flooded rivers. This includes avoiding water above the ankle while motorists should not cross rivers with water levels exceeding 30 centimetres as they can be washed away.

Matabeleland farmers are saying they are looking forward to the rains as some of the crops were now showing signs of moisture stress while dams are yet to record significant inflows.

On Monday, the Government launched a US$400 000 cloud-seeding programme to induce more rains as the country is in the middle of an El Nino weather season characterised by prolonged dry spells.

Bulawayo is desperate for rains as its supply dams’ water levels are very low as the dams did not receive significant inflows during the past rainy season. – @nqotshili