Icy grip to continue
Families in the central and southern parts of the country will have to brave icy conditions once again this week.
A series of cold fronts sweeping across southern Africa will ensure that Namibia's southern parts will continue to experience icy but above zero minimum temperatures.
Chief forecaster at the Namibia Meteorological Service Odillo Kgobetsi told Namibian Sun the cold fronts passing over Cape Town will prevail, leading to cold and rainy weather over the Western and Northern Cape, which in turn will result in cold conditions over the southern regions of Namibia.
In Aus, lower minimum temperatures are set to continue, with Karasburg and Noordoewer expected to feel the same icy plunge in the morning hours.
Karasburg and Noordoewer will also be in an icy grip.
Keetmanshoop, Maltahöhe and Mariental residents can also expect minimum temperatures of six degrees Celsius.
Walvis Bay, Aranos and Aroab can expect a minimum temperature of seven degrees Celsius.
Oranjemund, Rehoboth, Swakopmund and Windhoek are also expected to experience icy conditions.
Weak pressure gradients are expected over the Namibian coastal regions, where cloudy and foggy weather will prevail.
A few clouds will prevail over the northern regions.
The latest dam bulletin issued by NamWater shows that Swakoppoort Dam is currently at 38.2% capacity, compared to 50.9% last year at the same time.
NamWater noted that water transfers from Swakoppoort to Von Bach Dam continue to take place, after they commenced on 5 March.
Von Bach Dam is currently at 54.9% capacity, compared to 63.1% this time last year.
The Omatako Dam, from which water has been transferred to Von Bach Dam since February, is currently at 5.5% capacity, compared to 43.7% capacity last year.
Overall, the three central dams are at a current capacity of 34.1%, compared to a total capacity at the same time last year of 52.6%.
In the south, the Hardap Dam is currently at 45.7% capacity, compared to last season at the same time, when capacity was at 67%.
The City of Windhoek reported last week that no final water supply programme for the period 2018 and 2019 can be communicated at this time, as this will only be finalised at an upcoming central area water supply forum workshop planned for the middle of this month.
“The current proposal is to manage the groundwater sources to fill in for the shortfall that is anticipated due to the limited surface water available in the three-dam system. Thus the current 5% water savings will have to remain in place, not to overexploit the groundwater resources,” the municipality said.
JANA-MARI SMITH
Chief forecaster at the Namibia Meteorological Service Odillo Kgobetsi told Namibian Sun the cold fronts passing over Cape Town will prevail, leading to cold and rainy weather over the Western and Northern Cape, which in turn will result in cold conditions over the southern regions of Namibia.
In Aus, lower minimum temperatures are set to continue, with Karasburg and Noordoewer expected to feel the same icy plunge in the morning hours.
Karasburg and Noordoewer will also be in an icy grip.
Keetmanshoop, Maltahöhe and Mariental residents can also expect minimum temperatures of six degrees Celsius.
Walvis Bay, Aranos and Aroab can expect a minimum temperature of seven degrees Celsius.
Oranjemund, Rehoboth, Swakopmund and Windhoek are also expected to experience icy conditions.
Weak pressure gradients are expected over the Namibian coastal regions, where cloudy and foggy weather will prevail.
A few clouds will prevail over the northern regions.
The latest dam bulletin issued by NamWater shows that Swakoppoort Dam is currently at 38.2% capacity, compared to 50.9% last year at the same time.
NamWater noted that water transfers from Swakoppoort to Von Bach Dam continue to take place, after they commenced on 5 March.
Von Bach Dam is currently at 54.9% capacity, compared to 63.1% this time last year.
The Omatako Dam, from which water has been transferred to Von Bach Dam since February, is currently at 5.5% capacity, compared to 43.7% capacity last year.
Overall, the three central dams are at a current capacity of 34.1%, compared to a total capacity at the same time last year of 52.6%.
In the south, the Hardap Dam is currently at 45.7% capacity, compared to last season at the same time, when capacity was at 67%.
The City of Windhoek reported last week that no final water supply programme for the period 2018 and 2019 can be communicated at this time, as this will only be finalised at an upcoming central area water supply forum workshop planned for the middle of this month.
“The current proposal is to manage the groundwater sources to fill in for the shortfall that is anticipated due to the limited surface water available in the three-dam system. Thus the current 5% water savings will have to remain in place, not to overexploit the groundwater resources,” the municipality said.
JANA-MARI SMITH
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