Winter rains to decrease

frost and cold nights, the Meteorological Services Department has said.
The department said daytime temperatures were expected to rise towards the weekend.

“The prevailing mostly cloudy condition is expected to decrease until Saturday when most parts of the country start experiencing mostly sunny weather with occasional fair weather cloud. Consequently, daytime temperatures will gradually rise from the current cold category into the mild to warm range, while overnight temperatures should be very cold,” said the department’s central forecasting office.

Ground frost, the department said, would increase significantly as the weekend approaches.
The Met Department said cloudy to overcast and windy conditions with widespread rains characterised the past seven days with heavier falls being received over the south east of Masvingo, Manicaland and Matabeleland South provinces.

During the period in question, Chipinge recorded a 24-hour total of 25mm, Rupike 14 mm, Chisengu 13mm, Buffalo Range 10mm, Mutare 8mm, Zvishavane 8mm, Harare (Belvedere) 7mm, West Nicholson 5mm and Binga 4mm.

“Because of the overcast conditions, very cold daytime temperatures were also recorded, with maximum temperatures in the lower teens in most places. Ground frost was also consequently very minimal during the period. However, these weather conditions are not unusual for this time of the year,” the department said.

The department said farmers practising horticulture should be prepared for moderate to severe frost and take precautionary measures. It urged them to contact Agritex officers for expert advice.
The Met Department warned against the use of braziers (mbaura/imbaula) in rooms with closed windows as it causes suffocation.
Recently the country experienced severe frost after temperatures fell to -8 degrees Celsius.