Marthina Mutanga
RAIN is falling in various regions, with Swakopmund recording 5mm, thunder and lightning reports from the central coast, and a prevailing storm alert issued for the north and northeast.
More heavy rains are expected over Namibia, with hailstorms in the northeast, Omaheke and southern regions today and tomorrow.
The Namibia Meteorological Services’ chief forecaster, Odillo Kgobetsi, confirmed that above-normal rainfall is defined as being within the wettest third of historically recorded rainfall amounts, while below-normal is within the driest third of rainfall amounts.
Normal rainfall is within the middle third.
Kgobetsi indicated that the major part of the Democratic Republic of Congo and some small parts of Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia are expected to receive normal to below normal rainfall in the first half of the agricultural season.
The second half, which covers the period January to March 2022, is expected to receive normal to above-normal rainfall, except for the south-western coastal region of Angola, and western coastal regions of both Namibia and South Africa.
The regions are expected to experience below-normal rainfall throughout the agricultural season and farmers are encouraged to plant short-season crop varieties.
In view of the predicted rainfall in the 2021/22 season, climate experts urged citizens to strengthen flood control mechanisms in light of the flood threat and ensure dams are in optimal conditions to handle high volumes of water, as well as improving grain storage to minimise post-harvest losses.
There is also the possibility of leaching in some areas, the outbreak of livestock diseases and crop pests such as fall armyworm, which farmers will need to prepare for.
