07 Jan 2016

Botswana has been experiencing searing heat since yesterday with temperatures ranging between the 40-43 Degrees Celsius mark in several parts of the country.

The Department of Meteorological Services (DMS), which is responsible for weather forecasting, explained early this week that the heat wave was anticipated to break maximum high temperatures in some places, further warning members of the public to take precautionary measures and avoid getting adversely affected by the scorching heat.

On Wednesday, we caught up with the acting chief meteorologist Mr Radithupa Radithupa to find out the records which the department was referring to.

Mr Radithupa said the country’s current maximum temperature stands at 43.3 Degrees Celsius, which was recorded in Gaborone almost 72 years ago in 1944.

According to a table of the highest maximum temperatures provided by DMS for various weather stations, the second highest temperature recorded is 42.6 Degrees Celsius for Sua Pan in October 2011 and Tsabong in November 1961.

“I cannot say whether the record highest temperature of 43 Degrees Celsius would be broken during the two days (Thursday and Friday) of extreme heat wave. We would have to wait and see. But what I can tell you is that records for some places might be broken,” Mr Radithupa said during the interview.

He said this summer is one of the hottest ever experienced in the history of this country, explaining that the searing temperatures are caused by a natural phenomenon called El Nino. A quick glance at the statistics also indicates that Botswana experienced similar scorching conditions during the summer of 2011.

A number of weather stations returned their record maximum temperatures during that year. Mahalapye recorded its highest ever temperature at 42.4 Degrees Celsius in October 2011, while Francistown and Selebi Phikwe respectively recorded 42.1 Degrees Celsius and 42.0 Degrees Celsius during the same month.

Pandamatenga also recorded its highest temperature of 40.7 Degrees Celsius, Letlhakane 41.9 Degrees Celsius, Werda 41.2 Degrees Celsius, and Sua Pan 42.6 Degrees Celsius in October 2011. Shakawe recorded its maximum of 42.1 Degrees Celsius and Maun 41.8 Degrees Celsius respectively in November 2011.

The good part, according to Mr Radithupa, is that the scorching heat will be followed by rain at the weekend. Rain is expected in Gaborone and the Kweneng areas , among other places.However,temperatures will continue to be high, in the range of 34-38 Degrees Celsius until next month. Ends