Heat wave to make way for rain
JANA-MARI SMITH
WINDHOEK
As Namibia continues to buckle under heat wave conditions, weather forecasts indicate relief is on the way for some, with heavy rains expected in some parts of the country in the coming days.
Chief weather forecaster Odillo Kgobetsi of the Namibia Meteorological Service (NMS) yesterday said the heat wave conditions will make way for slightly cooler weather in the north-central and eastern parts of the country as of Wednesday and Thursday.
A seven-day temperature forecast shows that cooler weather is expected over Windhoek, Grootfontein, Omaruru, Otjiwarongo, Okahandja and some other towns from Sunday to Monday.
Kgobetsi said increased moisture and further rains are expected to drift further over the interior from Wednesday, increasing chances of rain in the central north, parts of Otjozondjupa, Omaheke, Kavango and Zambezi.
“Storms are expected to become heavy on Wednesday over the central north, far northern regions, and parts of the Otjozondjupa region,” he said.
“By Thursday we should expect severe storms mainly in parts of Otjozondjupa region - slightly east of Okamatapati - in places.”
The NMS has warned that more than 50 mm are expected within 24 hours in the Okamatapati area of the Otjozondjupa region.
The moisture conditions are expected to spread farther across Namibia at the start of the weekend.
“A trend of moisture and rains to set in further over the central parts as we go into the weekend, as well as over the south-eastern parts. So good developments, and we see rains have already started coming through and we are expecting more storms to occur then over the weekend.”
Hope
On Monday, Johan van den Berg, a consultant for the agricultural industry on weather, told Namibian Sun’s sister publication Republikein that while Namibia missed out on the rainy weather experienced in many parts of South Africa in December, things are looking up.
“For the first time, it appears that the tropical moisture is moving down from Angola over Namibia.”
He added that rainfall conditions are set to improve towards the end of January for many parts of Namibia, except the western parts.
"The longer term is also still positive and most of Namibia can still expect average to above-average rain in February and March," he said, adding that the La Niña system is probably close to its peak now.
A warning was issued on the South African weather service Facebook page of Landwater on Monday, stating that “serious water volumes are extensively heading our way and will not be sidestepped easily, with different systems aligning in a ‘really bad’ way” for parts of South Africa from the second half of the week and into next week.
The site’s authors noted that this development also means positive news for Namibia - including a chance of “too much water” in some places. Nevertheless, the westerly conditions could dampen rainfall in some areas.
WINDHOEK
As Namibia continues to buckle under heat wave conditions, weather forecasts indicate relief is on the way for some, with heavy rains expected in some parts of the country in the coming days.
Chief weather forecaster Odillo Kgobetsi of the Namibia Meteorological Service (NMS) yesterday said the heat wave conditions will make way for slightly cooler weather in the north-central and eastern parts of the country as of Wednesday and Thursday.
A seven-day temperature forecast shows that cooler weather is expected over Windhoek, Grootfontein, Omaruru, Otjiwarongo, Okahandja and some other towns from Sunday to Monday.
Kgobetsi said increased moisture and further rains are expected to drift further over the interior from Wednesday, increasing chances of rain in the central north, parts of Otjozondjupa, Omaheke, Kavango and Zambezi.
“Storms are expected to become heavy on Wednesday over the central north, far northern regions, and parts of the Otjozondjupa region,” he said.
“By Thursday we should expect severe storms mainly in parts of Otjozondjupa region - slightly east of Okamatapati - in places.”
The NMS has warned that more than 50 mm are expected within 24 hours in the Okamatapati area of the Otjozondjupa region.
The moisture conditions are expected to spread farther across Namibia at the start of the weekend.
“A trend of moisture and rains to set in further over the central parts as we go into the weekend, as well as over the south-eastern parts. So good developments, and we see rains have already started coming through and we are expecting more storms to occur then over the weekend.”
Hope
On Monday, Johan van den Berg, a consultant for the agricultural industry on weather, told Namibian Sun’s sister publication Republikein that while Namibia missed out on the rainy weather experienced in many parts of South Africa in December, things are looking up.
“For the first time, it appears that the tropical moisture is moving down from Angola over Namibia.”
He added that rainfall conditions are set to improve towards the end of January for many parts of Namibia, except the western parts.
"The longer term is also still positive and most of Namibia can still expect average to above-average rain in February and March," he said, adding that the La Niña system is probably close to its peak now.
A warning was issued on the South African weather service Facebook page of Landwater on Monday, stating that “serious water volumes are extensively heading our way and will not be sidestepped easily, with different systems aligning in a ‘really bad’ way” for parts of South Africa from the second half of the week and into next week.
The site’s authors noted that this development also means positive news for Namibia - including a chance of “too much water” in some places. Nevertheless, the westerly conditions could dampen rainfall in some areas.
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article