Namibians holding breath for more rain

Rain showers and thunderstorms are expected to occur in Namibia by November.This according to Odillo Kgobetsi, the chief forecaster for the Namibia Meteorological Service, who said according to the outlook for the 2024/2025 rainy season, a mild La Niña is expected to bring average to above-average rain during the coming rainy season. This after rain at the end of September - earlier than expected - brought relief to farmers in the east. Rian van Wyk from Farm Doornkom said his farm received 15mm and 25mm of rain. Two dams in the Omaheke Region, Daan Viljoen and Tilda Viljoen, received inflows. "The forecast was adopted by experts at regional level and is revised monthly until the end of March," Kgobetsi said. Temperatures risingAlthough the report states that rain will occur from October to December over the northern and central areas of the country, the weather office warned that the fact that temperatures are rising unusually high worldwide, the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (Enso) and the Indian Ocean dipole (IOD) may make it somewhat unpredictable. However, the Namibia Meteorological Service remained confident in its forecast of average to above-average rain across the country from January to March.Meanwhile, it urged Namibians to be proactive in water management and recommended that measures and monitoring be put in place in most parts of the country to limit the risks associated with floods. In the south, the weather office recommended that water be used sparingly and that additional water sources may be needed to ensure a reliable supply. Farmers have been advised to prepare themselves for an abundant season, but must remain vigilant for crop pests and livestock diseases. The Zambezi, Kavango East, Kavango West, Oshana, Ohangwena, Omusati and Oshikoto regions should prepare for possible floods by issuing flood warnings to communities, ensuring that drainage systems are working and getting evacuation plans in place, the Namibia Meteorological Service said.RisksThe risks the coming rainy season may bring to public health are mainly centered in the north, where insufficient sanitation and stagnant water may cause outbreaks of cholera and typhoid fever, among other things, Kgobetsi noted.Urban areas with inadequate drainage systems such as Windhoek's informal settlements may also experience health issues. He further urged the ministry of works and transport to be on guard for the possibility of damage to roads and highways such as the Trans-Caprivi highway. It is also expected that power systems and communication networks in Zambezi, Kavango West and Kavango East may be affected by the weather forecast, he said.

Namibians holding breath for more rain

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-17

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Namibians holding breath for more rain

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-17

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