Staff Reporter
THE northern Kunene and most of the north-eastern quadrant of the country received rainfall ranging from 40 millimetres (mm) to 200 mm or more during January 2024.
This data comes from the Ministry of Works and Transport’s latest Climate Watch Report, which highlighted that the northern Kunene, Ohangwena, Oshana, Oshikoto, parts of Omusati, Kavango West, Kavango East, and Zambezi regions experienced average rainfall in January.
The report also disclosed that various weather stations in the North and North-east recorded rainfall amounts surpassing 200mm. Stations such as Sachona (259mm), Enguwantale (209mm), Eheke (205mm), Kasheshe (204mm), and Kaisosi (203mm) were specifically mentioned as evidence of this.
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RAINFALL REVIEW: January 2024 rainfall in millimetres (figure 1); January 2024 percent of normal rainfall (figure 2); October 2023 to 31 January 2024 percent of normal rainfall (figure 3). Photos: Ministry of Works and Transport. -
RAINFALL REVIEW: January 2024 rainfall in millimetres (figure 1); January 2024 percent of normal rainfall (figure 2); October 2023 to 31 January 2024 percent of normal rainfall (figure 3). Photos: Ministry of Works and Transport.
In contrast, the Ministry of Works revealed that the majority of the //Kharas, Hardap, Erongo, and southern Kunene regions received less than 20mm of rain in January 2024. Furthermore, regarding the overall seasonal rainfall performance between October 2023 and January 2024, the report revealed below normal rainfall for the greater part of the country, with exceptions in most northern areas and some eastern areas.
According to the report, February’s rainfall performance is also anticipated to be bleak. In fact, the report predicts that the projections for February 2024 indicate a likelihood of below-normal rainfall over most of the country.
“It is paramount to state that dry conditions are expected to continue over the country for the month of February 2024,” the report reads.
However, a slight improvement is expected over the south-eastern parts of the //Kharas region and parts of Ohangwena and Oshikoto regions, while prospects for the southwestern Namib are normal.
“It is important to note that, regardless of the improvement in areas with a likelihood of normal to above normal rainfall, the amount of rainfall in millimetres is not that significant,” the report added.
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