The Sunday News
Tinomuda Chakanyuka, Senior Reporter
ISOLATED rains that are being recorded in some parts of the country do not signify the start of the rainy season and farmers must not start planting, the Meteorological Services Department has warned.
MSD senior forecaster Mr Ededia Hodera yesterday said the weather systems which has been responsible for the isolated rainfall were expected to subside by Tuesday. He warned farmers not to start planting as the rains were expected to disappear, followed by a prolonged dry spell before the rainy season starts.
“We expect this activity to be short-lived. It should continue up to Monday or Friday, paving the way for much warmer and less cloudy weather. If people are to start planting now, it will be a disaster because there will be a prolonged dry spell before the rains start across the whole country,” he said.
Mr Hodera said the 2017/18 rainy season was expected to start in earnest around mid November. Various parts of the country, mostly in the western areas, received varying amounts of rains characterised with strong winds over the past few days.
Beitbridge which experienced localised sharp downpours and strong winds which ripped off roof tops of some shops on Thursday last week, recorded 69mm and West Nicholson recorded 25mm. On Friday Kwekwe recorded 15mm and Kezi 21mm with other areas recording isolated rainfall.
“This was as a result of a cloud band which moved into the country from Botswana and pressure rises along the southeast coast of South Africa which caused convergence. The cloud band is affecting western parts of the country where wet conditions were mostly experienced,” said Mr Hodera.
In a statement on Friday, the MSD predicted increased cloudiness today under hot and humid conditions with isolated thunder showers in Matabeleland region, Midlands and Masvingo provinces.
“The rest of the country will remain mostly sunny and hot. As a result of these current weather conditions, the public is urged to take plenty of water or fluids and plan their day so as to stay out of the heat when possible,” reads the statement in part.
The MSD has also forecast that the country would receive normal rains during the 2017/18 season, with southern parts of the country expected to receive normal to below normal rains. The MSD — which indicated that the forecast is mainly for planning purposes — said it will continue to monitor weather conditions, and will be issuing 10-day forecasts once the rainy season begins.
In the 2016/2017 rainy season the country received above normal rainfall resulting in a bumper harvest under the Government initiated Command Agriculture programme. The season was however, characterised by tropical cyclone Dineo which affected mainly the southern parts of the country.
Over 300 families in Tsholotsho, Matabeleland North Province were left homeless after the tropical cyclone razed their homes in February this year.
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