MARGRET CHINOWAITA  •  18 JUNE 2015 12:03PM  •  0 COMMENTS

HARARE – Some areas of Zimbabwe have been hit by ground frost as overnight temperatures dipped below zero, the Meteorological Services Department has said.

“Due to radiational cooling at night, ground frost is expected to occur in susceptible areas, that is vleis and open valleys,” the weather forecaster said in a statement.

Farmers, individuals and organisations in the horticulture industry, poultry and animal breeding were cautioned that occurrences of ground frost will increase across the country as winter is now in full swing.

The Met Department said farmers should seek appropriate advice from Agritex.

“Also, the use of braziers or open fires in rooms with closed windows should be discouraged as there is heightening risk of carbon monoxide poisoning,” it said.

“Vulnerable members of society such as children and the elderly should be encouraged to put on warm clothing as we move deep into the winter season.”

The department said the past week was clear, dry and mild, with occasionally very cold mornings, with minimum temperatures at times hovering between one and five degrees Celsius.

There was a fair amount of frost around the country with Manicaland, Mashonaland East, Midlands, Matabeleland South, Masvingo and Bulawayo at great risk.

“Notably, Sunday and Monday June 15, 2015, Matopos has recorded the severest frost occurrence so far in the country at -6 °C,” the Met Department said.

“This poses damage to the horticulture industry around the area.”However, the Met Department expects plenty of sunshine and haze in Matabeleland South, Masvingo and south of Manicaland in the coming week.

By tomorrow, the weather forecasters expect to see increasing cloudiness affect many provinces as moisture gets pushed into southern Zimbabwe.

Overnight and morning temperatures will remain low, with minimum temperatures averaging six degrees Celsius, while at ground level temperatures as low as -4 °C cannot be ruled out.

In all other areas around the country, the weather was expected to continue being clear, hazy and mild with plenty of sunshine during the day.