admin
coming of rains, a weather expert said yesterday.
The hot spell, which started on Monday saw retailers and vendors recording brisk business as people jostled to buy fans, sun hats, umbrellas, large quantities of bottled water and beverages as temperatures reached an all time high 46 degrees Celsius in some parts of the country.
Most parts of the country this week recorded temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius.
Dr Leonard Wunganayi, a United Nations Development Progamme-sponsored drought and climate change project manager at the Environment Management Agency, yesterday said although the phenomenon was rare, it was simply an extreme weather event.
He runs a project called “Coping with drought and climate change”.
Dr Wunganayi described a heat wave as “excessively high temperatures that are experienced for at least five consecutive days”.
“We are experiencing a heat wave. That wave is defined as excessively high temperatures that are at least five degrees Celsius above the normal temperatures. The wave should go for at least five successive days.
“When we experience such temperatures, it normally means we are closer to receiving some rains,” he said.
RELATED STORIES
The heat wave, Dr Wunganayi said, had a high-pressure system and by the time the system collapses, rains follow.
“We want to correct the misconception in people that the heat wave is evidence of climate change. It has nothing to do with climate change and people should not mix-up the two,” he said.
A lecturer in the Physics Department at the University of Zimbabwe Ms Juliet Gwenzi said the wind pattern over Zimbabwe generally ranged easterly but taking a southerly or northerly component.
In the last few days a very dry southwesterly airflow covered the country resulting in high temperatures.
“By Sunday the airflow usual wind pattern will be re-established and hence temperatures will be moderated and people should constantly get weather updates from the Met Department. It is necessary to get updates so that people are not caught off guard.
“Extreme events have become common globally, with Zimbabwe not being spared. The events are a pointer to the fact that climate is changing and the business as usual approach no longer works,” she said.
DISCUSS THIS STORY ON FACEBOOK
Ms Gwenzi urged Zimbabweans to be proactive in protecting and keeping a clean environment and monitoring emissions.
She said the event could not be treated separately from what is happening in the region and globally.
Met Department chief forecasting officer, Mr Tichaona Zinyemba, said the whole country recorded temperatures above 32 degrees Celsius.
“We are, however, expecting a slight increase in temperatures today (yesterday), Harare is expected to have a maximum temperature of 35 degrees Celsius, Kwekwe and Kadoma 38 and Masvingo 37,” said Mr Zinyemba.
For the whole week people have been queuing at ZLG, a supplier of bottled water along George Silundika Avenue in Harare, with people buying water for consumption and resale.
A representative of ZLG Enterprises who only identified herself as Lina confirmed that business was high this week.
“Business is fine this week our sales are up,” she said.
The company ran out of bottled water by mid-morning yesterday.
Health experts have urged members of the public to take at least five litres of water a day.
An official from OK First Street yesterday said they were also recording high sales of drinks and bottled water.
“Long queues have been the order of the day since Monday as people are rushing to buy soft drinks and bottled water,” said the official.
Retailers who sell fans and hats yesterday also said their sales were up this week as people tried to mitigate the effects of the heat wave.
An official in the Ministry of Education, Art, Sport and Culture But said schools were urged to suspend sporting activities during the hot spell.
“We have not received reports of children collapsing but we urge schools to suspend sporting activities especially in the afternoon to avoid mishaps,” she said.
She said schools could, however, allow pupils to carry out sporting activities late in the afternoon when the weather becomes cooler.
According to Met Department yesterday, temperatures across the country dropped slightly but are expected to rise again today.
Harare, Bulawayo and Mutare recorded 33 Degrees Celsius, Zaka 36, Kadoma 38, Chinhoyi 36, Beitbridge 36, Plumtree 35, Kezi and Kwekwe 37.
Some motorists, mainly those with imported vehicles had a fair number of problems as some of the vehicles were overheating along highways.
There were also cases of motorists that complained of tyres bursts due to high temperatures.
A Bulawayo man who bought a new set of tyres from a local dealer complained that two of them blew up on his way home.
Online Reporter