10 Sep 2014

Rainfall forecasts for the coming three months indicate an increased likelihood of above normal to normal rainfall over the eastern part of the country.

Briefing the media on the seasonal rainfall outlook for October 2014 to March 2015 in Gaborone on Tuesday, senior meteorologist, Ms Esther Jansen said between December and February the whole country was expected to receive normal to above normal rainfall.

She said from January to March 201, indications were that the country was likely to experience below normal rainfall.  Ms Jansen said the rest of the country would start to experience a deficit of rain in March 2015.

The director of the Department of Meteorological Services, Mr Thabang Botshoma said although the last rainfall season was good for the country, it was expected that Gaborone Dam would dry up before the end of next month.

He said the Southern African Science Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management (SASSCAL) and the University of Botswana were conducting research on the catchment area of the dam.

He said SASSCAL has sponsored research activities, network and database development and the renovation of offices at the tune of P100 million. Mr Batshoma said with every passing year, the accuracy of seasonal rainfall forecasts becomes critical as the rainfall situation has changed. 

He noted that climate change has significantly changed seasonal patterns, and that there was a growing need to understand the phenomenon thoroughly.

Mr Batshoma said the government with the assistance of the German government and other development partners such as UNDP, have put in place plans to start looking at the issue of climate change through research, observation network development and climate change policy development. ends