Bulk of SADC can expect good rain
Ellanie Smit
WINDHOEK
The bulk of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) is likely to receive normal to above-normal rainfall this summer.
According to a statement issued following the 26th annual Southern Africa Climate Outlook Forum (SARCOF 26), hosted virtually by the SADC Climate Services Centre (CSC), climate experts forecasted that the bulk of the SADC region is likely to receive good rainfall from October to March 2023.
Specific forecast
They urged national meteorological services in SADC member states to work on their own detailed forecasts to capture the actual forecast for their countries.
“Central Mozambique, southern Malawi, the northern half of Zimbabwe, most of Zambia, southern DRC, the south-eastern half of Angola, the bulk of Namibia, the western half of Botswana, most of the central and western parts of South Africa and western parts of Lesotho are likely to receive normal to above-normal rainfall through the farming season,” the statement noted. Experts took into account oceanic and atmospheric factors that influence the climate over the region, including the El Nino southern oscillation (ENSO), which is currently in a La Niña phase.
Guidance
La Niña is defined by cooler-than-average sea surface temperatures in the central-eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean and related atmospheric changes, and is usually associated with normal to above-normal rains in the southern African region.
The ENSO is expected to remain in a La Niña phase during the forecast period.
This year, the SADC secretariat, through the CSC, convened the three-day SARCOF 26 virtual workshop, which ran from 24 to to 26 August under the theme ‘Early warning and early action: SADC region preparedness towards a ready-set-go! approach’.
This theme is based on seasonal guidance that can enable regional agencies and other stakeholders to mobilise resources across the region.
WINDHOEK
The bulk of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) is likely to receive normal to above-normal rainfall this summer.
According to a statement issued following the 26th annual Southern Africa Climate Outlook Forum (SARCOF 26), hosted virtually by the SADC Climate Services Centre (CSC), climate experts forecasted that the bulk of the SADC region is likely to receive good rainfall from October to March 2023.
Specific forecast
They urged national meteorological services in SADC member states to work on their own detailed forecasts to capture the actual forecast for their countries.
“Central Mozambique, southern Malawi, the northern half of Zimbabwe, most of Zambia, southern DRC, the south-eastern half of Angola, the bulk of Namibia, the western half of Botswana, most of the central and western parts of South Africa and western parts of Lesotho are likely to receive normal to above-normal rainfall through the farming season,” the statement noted. Experts took into account oceanic and atmospheric factors that influence the climate over the region, including the El Nino southern oscillation (ENSO), which is currently in a La Niña phase.
Guidance
La Niña is defined by cooler-than-average sea surface temperatures in the central-eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean and related atmospheric changes, and is usually associated with normal to above-normal rains in the southern African region.
The ENSO is expected to remain in a La Niña phase during the forecast period.
This year, the SADC secretariat, through the CSC, convened the three-day SARCOF 26 virtual workshop, which ran from 24 to to 26 August under the theme ‘Early warning and early action: SADC region preparedness towards a ready-set-go! approach’.
This theme is based on seasonal guidance that can enable regional agencies and other stakeholders to mobilise resources across the region.
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article