Rainy month ahead
The patches of light rainfall recorded in the central areas of Namibia over the weekend are the start of what promises to be a rainy month ahead.
South African weather expert Professor Peet Pienaar told Namibian Sun that he expects the rainy season to start in all earnest in a week's time.
Following the likely downpours next week, there will be a slight lull before the rains will continue for a week from 24 October.
“It's looking good for October in Namibia, and the rainy season has begun. I think the spring rains will cover a large part of the country,” Pienaar said.
He said while the regional outlook is correct that Namibia can expect normal to below-normal rainfall, this rainy season is likely to be better than last year's.
“I don't think it will be as dry as it was [last season].”
The Namibia Meteorological Service (NMS) released rainfall figures for only four towns on Sunday.
In Windhoek and at Omaruru, 0.2mm was recorded.
Khorixas recorded 0.3mm and Otjiwarongo had the highest rainfall of 2.2mm on Sunday.
The weather bureau forecasts that today will be partly cloudy and hot to very hot in many parts of the country.
A few light showers are likely over the central highlands in the Khomas Region and a few places in the Hardap Region this morning.
Windy weather will prevail in the interior.
At the coast, today will be partly cloudy and cool with fog patches.
The latest dam bulletin released by NamWater yesterday shows a marked difference in dam levels this year compared to last year.
The combined dam level for the three central dams - the Swakoppoort, Von Bach and Omatako dams - stands at 26.6%, compared to 42.5% last year.
The Swakoppoort Dam is at 29.4%, compared to 45.8% last year, while the Von Bach Dam is at 47.1%, compared to 70.1%.
Transfers from Swakoppoort to Von Bach Dam stopped on 14 September 2018 and transfers from Omatako to Von Bach Dam started on 7 October 2018.
The Omatako Dam is empty, compared to just above 7% last year.
Elsewhere, the Hardap Dam is 36.8% full, compared to 54% last year.
JANA-MARI SMITH
South African weather expert Professor Peet Pienaar told Namibian Sun that he expects the rainy season to start in all earnest in a week's time.
Following the likely downpours next week, there will be a slight lull before the rains will continue for a week from 24 October.
“It's looking good for October in Namibia, and the rainy season has begun. I think the spring rains will cover a large part of the country,” Pienaar said.
He said while the regional outlook is correct that Namibia can expect normal to below-normal rainfall, this rainy season is likely to be better than last year's.
“I don't think it will be as dry as it was [last season].”
The Namibia Meteorological Service (NMS) released rainfall figures for only four towns on Sunday.
In Windhoek and at Omaruru, 0.2mm was recorded.
Khorixas recorded 0.3mm and Otjiwarongo had the highest rainfall of 2.2mm on Sunday.
The weather bureau forecasts that today will be partly cloudy and hot to very hot in many parts of the country.
A few light showers are likely over the central highlands in the Khomas Region and a few places in the Hardap Region this morning.
Windy weather will prevail in the interior.
At the coast, today will be partly cloudy and cool with fog patches.
The latest dam bulletin released by NamWater yesterday shows a marked difference in dam levels this year compared to last year.
The combined dam level for the three central dams - the Swakoppoort, Von Bach and Omatako dams - stands at 26.6%, compared to 42.5% last year.
The Swakoppoort Dam is at 29.4%, compared to 45.8% last year, while the Von Bach Dam is at 47.1%, compared to 70.1%.
Transfers from Swakoppoort to Von Bach Dam stopped on 14 September 2018 and transfers from Omatako to Von Bach Dam started on 7 October 2018.
The Omatako Dam is empty, compared to just above 7% last year.
Elsewhere, the Hardap Dam is 36.8% full, compared to 54% last year.
JANA-MARI SMITH
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