Abnormal dryness, expected – Met dept

Tue, 06 Feb 2018 09:08:22 +0000

By LINDA SOKO TEMBO

ZAMBIA Meteorological Department ‘Crop Weather Bulletin’ says there will be abnormal dryness and anomalously high temperatures throughout many parts of the country especially over the southern part.

According to the Crop Weather Bulletin released yesterday, the department said half of the southern part was experiencing substantial moisture deficits and increased likelihood for moisture stress on crops and wilting.

The department which is under the ministry of Ministry of Transport & Communications noted that improved soil moisture was expected during the period from February 1-10, 2018, owing to enhance likelihood of wide spread rainfall activities during the period.

According to the bulletin it was stated that abnormally dry conditions accompanied by anomalously high temperatures had characterised many parts of the country especially over the southern an increased likelihood for adverse crop impacts.

“However, toward the end of January, there has been increased rainfall activities across the country that has resulted in some areas having improvements in soil moisture compared to the past two January dekad,” according to the statement.

The department stated that it had observed largely in Lusaka province (Lusaka, Chongwe, Kafue and Luangwa districts) there was still wilting.

“Other areas still experiencing wilting include Eastern Province (Nyimba, Katete, and Petauke districts), Central Province (Chibombo, Itezh-tezhi, Mumbwa) and Southern Province (Gwembe, Monze, Mazabuka and Namwala Districts,” according to the statement.

According to the bulletin during the dekad from January 21-31 there was steady improvement of the rainfall activities over much of the country owning to the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) which had moved southwards bringing much of the country under the effect of the rain-bearing moist and unstable airflow from the north-west.

The department stated that the wide spread rainfall activities over the country resulting in improvements especially over the areas that had below-normal rainfall.

“The ITCZ was confined to the extreme northern potions of the country by two systems; the tropical cyclones over the western Indian Ocean and the high-pressure system centered over Botswana and Zimbabwe.

“ITCZ is forecast to be oscillating about central and southern parts of Zambia starting from 1st February 2018. This may result into wide spread rainfall activities over most parts of Zambia,” according to the bulletin.

The department however said, there was a high-pressure system developing over the Mozambique Channel which was expected to ridge and affect the eastern half of the country suppressing rainfall activities over the area.

“The high-pressure system is expected to last until the February 6, when it will start to retreat and fade away making way for increased rainfall activities over the area,” according to the bulletin.