Rainy season ends on high note
The 2017/18 rainy season ended on a high note with most northern regions and areas surrounding Windhoek, farm Monica in the Omaheke Region, Gibeon and Ariamsvlei receiving above-normal rainfall in April.
However, areas surrounding Ondobe, Okahao, Rupara, Grootfontein, Okahandja and most of the //Karas Region received below-normal rainfall in April.
According to the Namibia Rainfall Performance Bulletin issued by the Namibia Metrological Service, areas surrounding Okahao, Onaanda, Omuntele, Onyaanya and Onankali ended the season with approximately 85 to 167mm less than their average seasonal rainfall.
The bulk of the //Karas Region, western Hardap, parts of Erongo and Kunene regions and areas around Witvlei and Rehoboth received less than 60% of their average seasonal rainfall.
The highest seasonal rainfall deficit outside the northern crop-producing regions was observed at Witvlei (214mm), followed by Omatjette (194mm) and farm Noas in the //Karas Region (150mm). Some of these places only received one third of their average seasonal rainfall and can be regarded as drought-stricken.
The rainy season started on time in the Zambezi Region, but rainfall was suppressed for the most part of the rainy season and only started increasing during the last ten days of January.
In February the region received approximately 40 to 70% of its average seasonal rainfall and overall it had a normal rainy season.
In the two Kavango regions the start of the rainy season was delayed by more than a month and only started at the beginning of December. Rainfall in the regions was slightly suppressed for most of the season.
The northern parts of Kavango East received about 100mm less than its average seasonal rainfall, while the area from Mpungu to Ncaute received 60mm more than the seasonal average.
Rainfall was suppressed for the greater part of the season in the north-central regions.
The bulk of the seasonal rainfall (between 40 and 80%) was received in March and April in these regions.
El Nino southern oscillation conditions are neutral at present but the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts that by spring, El Nino conditions may strengthen to 50% probability and by summer the probability could increase to 65%.
This does not bode well for Namibia and other southern-hemisphere countries that receive summer rainfall.
However, the administration also noted that predictions at this time are “notoriously fickle” and that a more accurate picture will emerge by August.
ELLANIE SMIT
However, areas surrounding Ondobe, Okahao, Rupara, Grootfontein, Okahandja and most of the //Karas Region received below-normal rainfall in April.
According to the Namibia Rainfall Performance Bulletin issued by the Namibia Metrological Service, areas surrounding Okahao, Onaanda, Omuntele, Onyaanya and Onankali ended the season with approximately 85 to 167mm less than their average seasonal rainfall.
The bulk of the //Karas Region, western Hardap, parts of Erongo and Kunene regions and areas around Witvlei and Rehoboth received less than 60% of their average seasonal rainfall.
The highest seasonal rainfall deficit outside the northern crop-producing regions was observed at Witvlei (214mm), followed by Omatjette (194mm) and farm Noas in the //Karas Region (150mm). Some of these places only received one third of their average seasonal rainfall and can be regarded as drought-stricken.
The rainy season started on time in the Zambezi Region, but rainfall was suppressed for the most part of the rainy season and only started increasing during the last ten days of January.
In February the region received approximately 40 to 70% of its average seasonal rainfall and overall it had a normal rainy season.
In the two Kavango regions the start of the rainy season was delayed by more than a month and only started at the beginning of December. Rainfall in the regions was slightly suppressed for most of the season.
The northern parts of Kavango East received about 100mm less than its average seasonal rainfall, while the area from Mpungu to Ncaute received 60mm more than the seasonal average.
Rainfall was suppressed for the greater part of the season in the north-central regions.
The bulk of the seasonal rainfall (between 40 and 80%) was received in March and April in these regions.
El Nino southern oscillation conditions are neutral at present but the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts that by spring, El Nino conditions may strengthen to 50% probability and by summer the probability could increase to 65%.
This does not bode well for Namibia and other southern-hemisphere countries that receive summer rainfall.
However, the administration also noted that predictions at this time are “notoriously fickle” and that a more accurate picture will emerge by August.
ELLANIE SMIT
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