Herald Reporter
Zimbabwe should brace for thunder- showers, hail and strong winds accompanied by lightning from next week until early November, the Meteorological Services Department (MSD) warned yesterday. Matabeleland South, Masvingo and south of Manicaland provinces were likely to be affected more by these weather conditions. In a statement yesterday, MSD head of public weather services, Mr Tichaona Zinyemba, said the weather would be dominated by fine and hot daytime temperatures.

“In October and early November, there are frequent cloud systems that move into the country from Botswana. These are usually accompanied by lightning, violent thunder-showers, hail and strong winds. It is important, therefore, for the public to be aware of this. The Meteorological Services Department will, as usual issue alerts and attendant advisories for appropriate authorities to consider and preferably act upon,” he said.

Mr Zinyemba said the rains did not mark the onset of the rainy season. “It is difficult for us to advise farmers to start planting because these are just light showers and they do not mark the beginning of the rainy season,” he said.

He said during that period, some parts of the country would be partly cloudy due to either pressure rise along the south-east of South Africa and from another cloud system from Botswana.

“Some light thundershowers and drizzle are forecast for Matabeleland South, Masvingo and south of Manicaland between Monday and Wednesday next week,” he said.

The light showers come after a heatwave that swept across the country recently that saw some areas recording temperatures of up to 40 degree celsius. “A heatwave affected the country from 12 to 16 October during which day time temperatures ranged from 35 to 41 degrees Celsius. “On the 15th, however, a cloud system entered the country from Botswana through Matabeleland provinces resulting in some light thundershowers there.”

The MSD said the combination of the heat and moisture triggered fairly widespread thundershowers and these produced light rain as measured by the department’s provincial stations.

“The most notable rainfalls on the 16th were in Matopos 16mm, Chibero 14mm, Nkayi 11mm and Harare International Airport 9 mm respectively,” he said.

Zimbabwe is likely to receive normal to below normal rainfall during the 2015-16 season.