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Elita Chikwati, Harare Bureau
THE Meteorological Services Department (MSD) has warned the public of hot weather expected to affect the whole country starting yesterday to today.
A wet spell is also expected to start in the country from tomorrow onwards.
In a statement yesterday, the MSD said conditions which are near record-breaking high temperatures both during the day and at night are forecast to range from 33 degrees Celsius to 43 degrees Celsius.
“The department strongly advises against extended exposure to direct sunlight as there is little ozone to protect the skin. The usual health-related protection measures should be maximised.
“Some moisture is expected to start entering the country from Tuesday (today) and should cover much of Zimbabwe by Wednesday (tomorrow). It is expected however, that although the ensuing rains and thunderstorms should cover the whole country, they will be generally light,” said the department.
The MSD said it was also important to note that the combination of this moisture together with heat could trigger violent storms, which are usually accompanied by hail and damaging winds.
“The department therefore as a way of taking precautionary measures to protect themselves from the adverse weather conditions, advises members of the public to drink lots of fluids, particularly water, avoid prolonged stay in the sun, protect yourselves from the sun by using umbrellas and wide-brimmed hats.
“The danger is extremely high for runaway fires, so people should be careful. The department will continue monitoring the conditions and update the public accordingly.
“The department also requests the public to provide feedback or information on disasters through Twitter, Facebook and Whatsapp,” read the statement.
Online Reporter