More rain on the way
15 January 2021 | Weather
ERWIN LEUSCHNER
SWAKOPMUND
The current rainy season will likely go down in the history books - and there is still no end in sight.
The weather office on Wednesday issued another warning of widespread thunderstorms and flash floods for the Kavango, Zambezi, Otjozondjupa, Khomas, Omaheke and Hardap regions.
Due to heavy showers, TransNamib has stopped all passenger trains, while the Roads Authority (RA) announced the closure of the C11 between Karasburg and Aroab due to sections of this route being completely washed away.
However, the RA reported that the route between Aussenkehr and Rosh Pinah has been reopened after repairs.
Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) has also been severely affected.
“We experienced heavy rainfall and flash floods, resulting in the river overflowing its banks and severely damaging the [Ai-Ais] resort and the campsites,” NWR said in a media statement, adding that the resort would be closed until the end of March for repairs.
Rain reports
In the past few days, reports of heavy rain were received from many parts of the country. More than 100 mm was reported from areas in Windhoek on 12 and 13 January, while Tsumis recorded 59.6 mm, according to the Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management.
Karsten Sodmann of the Capricorn Restcamp near the Naukluft Mountains said he measured 62 mm by Wednesday at 08:00.
Due to the high rainfall, many rivers were flowing on Wednesday. The Kuiseb reached Rooibank near Walvis Bay; the Gaub flowed into the canyon of the same name; the Tsauchab flooded parts of Sesriem and reached Sossuslvei by late afternoon; the Tsondab flowed heavily; and the White Nossob and Black Nossob were also flowing.
The sluices of the Hardap Dam near Mariental were opened at 11:00 on Wednesday after the level reached 68.8% at 10:00.
“Based on the inflow data, water has to be let out of the dam in order to reduce the level to 68% again,” the Mariental municipality said.
Water was released from the dam for several hours at 300 cubic metres per second.
SWAKOPMUND
The current rainy season will likely go down in the history books - and there is still no end in sight.
The weather office on Wednesday issued another warning of widespread thunderstorms and flash floods for the Kavango, Zambezi, Otjozondjupa, Khomas, Omaheke and Hardap regions.
Due to heavy showers, TransNamib has stopped all passenger trains, while the Roads Authority (RA) announced the closure of the C11 between Karasburg and Aroab due to sections of this route being completely washed away.
However, the RA reported that the route between Aussenkehr and Rosh Pinah has been reopened after repairs.
Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) has also been severely affected.
“We experienced heavy rainfall and flash floods, resulting in the river overflowing its banks and severely damaging the [Ai-Ais] resort and the campsites,” NWR said in a media statement, adding that the resort would be closed until the end of March for repairs.
Rain reports
In the past few days, reports of heavy rain were received from many parts of the country. More than 100 mm was reported from areas in Windhoek on 12 and 13 January, while Tsumis recorded 59.6 mm, according to the Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management.
Karsten Sodmann of the Capricorn Restcamp near the Naukluft Mountains said he measured 62 mm by Wednesday at 08:00.
Due to the high rainfall, many rivers were flowing on Wednesday. The Kuiseb reached Rooibank near Walvis Bay; the Gaub flowed into the canyon of the same name; the Tsauchab flooded parts of Sesriem and reached Sossuslvei by late afternoon; the Tsondab flowed heavily; and the White Nossob and Black Nossob were also flowing.
The sluices of the Hardap Dam near Mariental were opened at 11:00 on Wednesday after the level reached 68.8% at 10:00.
“Based on the inflow data, water has to be let out of the dam in order to reduce the level to 68% again,” the Mariental municipality said.
Water was released from the dam for several hours at 300 cubic metres per second.
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