Damn good rain
Dams in southern Namibia have received significant inflows in the last week, while more rain is forecast for certain regions.
Widespread rainfall throughout the country this past week has resulted in welcome inflows into several of Namibia's dams and heavy rainfall is still expected in the northwest, the Omaheke and the Otjozondjupa regions.
According to the latest dam bulletin issued by NamWater yesterday inflows of more than 100 million cubic metres of water were recorded in some of Namibia's dams during the past week.
Dams such as Von Bach, Hardap, Naute and Oanob have already surpassed the levels at which they were at the same time last year.
The largest inflow of 79.3 million cubic metres was recorded at the Hardap Dam. That pushed the level of the dam up from the 38.2% that it held last week to 65.1%. Last year this time the level of the Hardap Dam was only 46.3%.
By yesterday afternoon the indication was that the sluices would not yet be opened. Water is released from the Hardap Dam when it reaches 70% of capacity. However, rain forecasts for its catchment area do not indicate any imminent risk of flooding.
Construction crews at the Neckartal Dam, also located in the Fish River downstream of Hardap, have started moving machinery to higher ground in anticipation of possible flooding.
The level of the Naute Dam at Keetmanshoop currently stands at 92% after an inflow of 12.9 million cubic metres. Last week the level was at 76.7%. The level of the Naute Dam last year stood at 76.7%. The sluices are usually opened when the dam reaches about 96% or more.
The Oanob Dam has received 11.7 million cubic metres of water and that increased its level from 27.6% to 61.5%.
The storage dams supplying the water-stressed central area have also received some inflows after good rains in their catchment areas.
The Von Bach Dam had an inflow of 8.19 million cubic metres. That increased its level from 15.8% last week to 32.7%. Last year at this time the level of Von Bach stood at 21.8%.
The level of the Swakoppoort Dam has increased slightly from 5.7% to 9.8% after receiving an inflow of 2.58 million cubic metres.
The Omatako Dam received 1.6 million cubic metres, which pushed its level from 2.9% to 6.8%.
The Friedenau Dam near Windhoek recorded an inflow of 0.534 million cubic metres, increasing its level from 2.9% to 6.8%.
The Meteorological Service has warned that heavy rainfall is expected in the northwest, the Omaheke and the Otjozondjupa regions today.
The interior will be partly cloudy and hot to very hot in the //Karas Region; elsewhere partly cloudy and warm to hot with isolated thundershowers.
ELLANIE SMIT
According to the latest dam bulletin issued by NamWater yesterday inflows of more than 100 million cubic metres of water were recorded in some of Namibia's dams during the past week.
Dams such as Von Bach, Hardap, Naute and Oanob have already surpassed the levels at which they were at the same time last year.
The largest inflow of 79.3 million cubic metres was recorded at the Hardap Dam. That pushed the level of the dam up from the 38.2% that it held last week to 65.1%. Last year this time the level of the Hardap Dam was only 46.3%.
By yesterday afternoon the indication was that the sluices would not yet be opened. Water is released from the Hardap Dam when it reaches 70% of capacity. However, rain forecasts for its catchment area do not indicate any imminent risk of flooding.
Construction crews at the Neckartal Dam, also located in the Fish River downstream of Hardap, have started moving machinery to higher ground in anticipation of possible flooding.
The level of the Naute Dam at Keetmanshoop currently stands at 92% after an inflow of 12.9 million cubic metres. Last week the level was at 76.7%. The level of the Naute Dam last year stood at 76.7%. The sluices are usually opened when the dam reaches about 96% or more.
The Oanob Dam has received 11.7 million cubic metres of water and that increased its level from 27.6% to 61.5%.
The storage dams supplying the water-stressed central area have also received some inflows after good rains in their catchment areas.
The Von Bach Dam had an inflow of 8.19 million cubic metres. That increased its level from 15.8% last week to 32.7%. Last year at this time the level of Von Bach stood at 21.8%.
The level of the Swakoppoort Dam has increased slightly from 5.7% to 9.8% after receiving an inflow of 2.58 million cubic metres.
The Omatako Dam received 1.6 million cubic metres, which pushed its level from 2.9% to 6.8%.
The Friedenau Dam near Windhoek recorded an inflow of 0.534 million cubic metres, increasing its level from 2.9% to 6.8%.
The Meteorological Service has warned that heavy rainfall is expected in the northwest, the Omaheke and the Otjozondjupa regions today.
The interior will be partly cloudy and hot to very hot in the //Karas Region; elsewhere partly cloudy and warm to hot with isolated thundershowers.
ELLANIE SMIT
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