Rains greet the New Year

JANA-MARI SMITHWidespread rains and a dip in temperatures marked the last days of 2018 in many parts of the country and there are high hopes that dams will receive much-needed inflows.South African weather expert Mike Berridge reports that the chief factor for the rainy weather over much of southern Africa over the weekend “is the inflow of humid air in the mid-level of the atmosphere at a height centring around 13 000 feet up.”On Saturday he explained that “thundershowers for Namibia and Botswana are being enhanced by the slow southward drift of the unstable low pressure which is also pulling in air originating from the Congo.”The Namibia Meteorological Service forecast for today is partly cloudy and mild weather in the extreme south-west, elsewhere partly cloudy and hot to very hot with isolated to scattered thundershowers over the northern, central and north-eastern parts.Over the weekend Namibians rushed to report rainfall and flowing rivers on social media.Yesterday it was reported that 26 mm had been measured at Osire, resulting in a total of 44 mm for the month of December.In Windhoek, rain measurements ranged from 30 to 45 mm in different parts of the city.Rain was also reported at Rundu, Otjiwarongo, Otavi, Tsumeb and Kalkfeld.Nearly 38 mm of rain was recorded at Wilhelmstal and several Namibians reported inflow into dams in the area.Between 30 and 35 mm was recorded at Okahandja, 39 mm in the Tsumkwe area, 42 mm at Waterberg and 22 mm west of Leonardville.Witvlei received around 40 mm over the weekend.Photos of inflow into the Von Bach Dam were also shared. The dam level stood at 40.3% in the latest NamWater report issued on 17 December and many have expressed hope that it will rise.At Divundu heavy rainfall was experienced, while Ondangwa and other northern parts of the country also reported receiving rain.In the south, 20 mm of rain was reported at Kalkrand and Maltahöhe, and 14 mm at Aranos.Between 40 and 50 mm of rain was recorded on farms south of Maltahöhe.Several rivers were flowing, including the Tsauchab near Sesriem.NamWater’s 17 December dam report stated that the Swakoppoort Dam was 24.5% full. No new reports have been issued since.

Rains greet the New Year

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-19

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Rains greet the New Year

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-19

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