More rains expected this week, MSD says

Zim Now Writer

The Meteorological Services Department has said that the country is expected to receive more rains this week, as hopes of a good harvest for the season get brighter.

MSD agro-meteorologist in charge of season forecasting, Benjamin Kwenda said that much of the country will receive the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone-induced rains in a forecast covering January 31 to February 6.

“Much of the country is expected to receive considerable rainfall this week (above 50mm), though the bulk of Masvingo Province, southern areas of Manicaland (Chipinge as well as Chimanimani District) and western parts of Matabeleland South have a higher probability of receiving around 20mm,” he said.

“These rains are mainly influenced by the anticipated return of the ITCZ in the northern provinces covering Matabeleland North, northern parts of the Midlands, Harare Metropolitan, northern areas of Manicaland and all Mashonaland Provinces.

“This will be coupled with westerly cloud-bands that are expected to encroach into Matabeleland South and Matabeleland North from Botswana. As can be noted, Matabeleland North is being affected by both systems, thus considerable rainfall amounts are probable,” said Kwenda.

In the south-eastern part of the country, cool south-easterly airflow should result in mostly cloudy, windy and mild conditions.

“This may be accompanied by light rain and drizzle from time to time. An odd thunderstorm remains feasible given the atmosphere gets rapidly warmed up when the clouds clear for an even short period,” Kwenda added.

The bulk of Zimbabwe’s rains and most parts of southern Africa are strongly influenced by the ITCZ, which changes position during the year, as it moves between the Equator and the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.

For Southern Africa, most of the annual rainfall is received between November and March when the ITCZ moves south.