Promising rainfall for Namibia

Good rains have been received in the northern and central parts of the country this week, the Namibia Meteorological Services (NMS) reports.

Good rains have been received in the northern and central parts of the country this week, the Namibia Meteorological Services (NMS) reports.

Otjiwarongo and Tsumeb recorded the highest amount of rainfall of 52.2 millimetres (mm) and 49 mm, respectively on Sunday.

Windhoek and Grootfontein also recorded some good rains of nearly 40 mm and 27 mm, respectively.

NMS Chief Hydrologist at the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, Pauline Mufeti said the water levels of some perennial rivers have risen tremendously due to the heavy rains that fell in the last couple of weeks.

“The latest river flow readings show that some perennial rivers recorded water levels that are above normal,” she reported.

The Zambezi River recorded a water level of 0.90 metres, compared to 0.72 metres which is the normal water level for this time of the year.

The Kwando River in the Kongola area recorded a water level of 2.89 metres, compared to the normal level of 2.27 metres.

The Kavango River in the Rundu area recorded a water level of 4.95 metres, compared to a normal level of 4.32 metres.

Mufeti explained that when river levels are above normal, it does not necessarily mean the situation is critical. She said sudden fluctuations must be read with care, as they may have been caused by power plants that often release water into the river system.

Otto Von Kaschke of Namushasha Lodge on the Kwando River situated in the Zambezi Region, informed the Hydrological Service Namibia (HSN) that the level of the Kwando River at Namushasha has started rising rapidly.

“Although it is still below the Gauge Plate, it rises a few centimetres per day,” he said.

Places which recorded less than 20 millimetres of rain were Mariental with 16.6 mm, Oshikango with 15.0 mm, Rehoboth 13.9 mm and Eros Airport 12.6 mm.

-Nampa