Wet February for most of Namibia
The rainfall performance for February was mostly normal to above normal, but the seasonal rainfall figures (October 2019 to February 2020) still register normal to below-normal rainfall for most of Namibia.
According to the February rainfall performance report issued by the Meteorological Service Division, the regions that reported above-normal rainfall in February were Ohangwena, western Otjozondjupa, western Omaheke and the extreme south-eastern parts of the //Karas Region.
It says patches of below-normal rainfall were reported in Kavango West, the southeast and along the western escarpment, while the bulk of the stations reported normal rainfall for the month.
“The significant falls were mostly experienced in the last ten days of February across the country.”
The western Omaheke, western Otjozondjupa, parts of Oshana and Oshikoto regions remain in the above-normal category, while the remainder of the country is mostly in the normal to below-normal rainfall category.
According to the report the highest rainfall total for February was measured at Ondobe in the Ohangwena Region, where 353.4 mm was recorded. This is 191% above the rainfall it normally receives in February.
Farm Donkerwater in the Otjozondjupa Region measured 339 mm last month, which is 110% above the normal rainfall for February. Its seasonal rainfall figure stands at 567.6 mm, which is 77% above normal.
A total of 293.6 mm was recorded at Farm Hüttenhof near Otavi in February. This is 127% above the normal rainfall it usually receives during February. Its seasonal rainfall recorded was 406.6 mm, which is 3% below normal.
Farm Gaikos in the Grootfontein district measured 284.5 mm of rain last month, which was 148% above normal. Its seasonal rainfall is 319.5 mm and it is 9% below normal.
Ndonga-Linena in the Kavango East Region reported a total of 278.5 mm, which was 105% above normal for February. Its seasonal rainfall was 505 mm and 17% above normal.
Other places that recorded above 200 mm for February were Okalongo, Kahenge, Ruuga, Mashare, Rundu, Grootfontein, Awagobibtal and Steinhausen.
Meanwhile, Bethanie recorded the lowest rainfall figure at 27.1 mm for February. This is 37% below its normal rainfall for February. Its seasonal rainfall has been 32.3 mm, which is 54% below normal.
A total of 28.2 mm was reported at Ariamsvlei last month, which was 42% above the normal rainfall for February. The seasonal rainfall recorded for Ariamsvlei so far is 57 mm, which is 20% below average.
Other places that recorded about 30 mm for February were Tses, Aroab, Berseba, Karasburg and Snyfontien.
Meanwhile the average of Namibia's dams this week stood at 57%, up from 32.6% the previous week.
Dams in the central area of Namibia are now 82.2% full, up from only 23.8% last week.
In the south the average dam level has increased to 55.8% in comparison to last week's 42.1%. The Hardap Dam, which was nearly empty just a few weeks ago, is now 44.1% full. Last week the level of the dam stood at 27%. The average of the dams in the Gobabis area now stands at 41.5%. Last week the average was only 2.4%.
ELLANIE SMIT
According to the February rainfall performance report issued by the Meteorological Service Division, the regions that reported above-normal rainfall in February were Ohangwena, western Otjozondjupa, western Omaheke and the extreme south-eastern parts of the //Karas Region.
It says patches of below-normal rainfall were reported in Kavango West, the southeast and along the western escarpment, while the bulk of the stations reported normal rainfall for the month.
“The significant falls were mostly experienced in the last ten days of February across the country.”
The western Omaheke, western Otjozondjupa, parts of Oshana and Oshikoto regions remain in the above-normal category, while the remainder of the country is mostly in the normal to below-normal rainfall category.
According to the report the highest rainfall total for February was measured at Ondobe in the Ohangwena Region, where 353.4 mm was recorded. This is 191% above the rainfall it normally receives in February.
Farm Donkerwater in the Otjozondjupa Region measured 339 mm last month, which is 110% above the normal rainfall for February. Its seasonal rainfall figure stands at 567.6 mm, which is 77% above normal.
A total of 293.6 mm was recorded at Farm Hüttenhof near Otavi in February. This is 127% above the normal rainfall it usually receives during February. Its seasonal rainfall recorded was 406.6 mm, which is 3% below normal.
Farm Gaikos in the Grootfontein district measured 284.5 mm of rain last month, which was 148% above normal. Its seasonal rainfall is 319.5 mm and it is 9% below normal.
Ndonga-Linena in the Kavango East Region reported a total of 278.5 mm, which was 105% above normal for February. Its seasonal rainfall was 505 mm and 17% above normal.
Other places that recorded above 200 mm for February were Okalongo, Kahenge, Ruuga, Mashare, Rundu, Grootfontein, Awagobibtal and Steinhausen.
Meanwhile, Bethanie recorded the lowest rainfall figure at 27.1 mm for February. This is 37% below its normal rainfall for February. Its seasonal rainfall has been 32.3 mm, which is 54% below normal.
A total of 28.2 mm was reported at Ariamsvlei last month, which was 42% above the normal rainfall for February. The seasonal rainfall recorded for Ariamsvlei so far is 57 mm, which is 20% below average.
Other places that recorded about 30 mm for February were Tses, Aroab, Berseba, Karasburg and Snyfontien.
Meanwhile the average of Namibia's dams this week stood at 57%, up from 32.6% the previous week.
Dams in the central area of Namibia are now 82.2% full, up from only 23.8% last week.
In the south the average dam level has increased to 55.8% in comparison to last week's 42.1%. The Hardap Dam, which was nearly empty just a few weeks ago, is now 44.1% full. Last week the level of the dam stood at 27%. The average of the dams in the Gobabis area now stands at 41.5%. Last week the average was only 2.4%.
ELLANIE SMIT
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