07 Sep 2017

The Department of Metrological Services (DMS) says the 2017/2018 season, which starts next month and ends in March next year, will largely be of normal rainfall.

This comes after reviewing the state of the global climate system and analysing rainfall prospects for the coming rainfall season.

In a press statement, the metrological services department says the season will start off with largely normal rains with a slight likelihood to below normal, but as the season progresses there will be an improvement

in rainfall, hence normal rains expected towards the end of the season.

The press statement also states that during the month of October, November and December this year, most parts of the country are expected to receive normal to below normal rains.

 It also says during November and December this year and January 2018 the South-eastern parts of the country (South East, Kgatleng, Kweneng, Eastern CKGR and Southern districts) are expected to receive largely above normal to normal rainfall.

It further says the rest of the country will receive normal to below normal rains.

Again, it says December 2017, January and February 2018 are expected to receive above normal to normal rainfall in the west and northern parts of Botswana (Ghanzi, Kgalagadi, Ngamiland and Chobe districts).

The remaining parts (Southern, Southeast, Kgatleng, Kweneng, CKGR, Northeast and Central districts), it says, will receive normal with a likelihood of above normal rains.  The Kgalagadi, Easrern Ngamiland,

Chobe, Northeast and Central districts will receive normal to above normal rains in January, February and March 2018 and the remaining parts (western Ngamiland, Ghanzi, Southern, Southeast, Kgatleng and Kweneng) are expected to receive above normal to normal rainfall.

The press statement further says the aim of the rainfall outlook is to be used for benefit of policy-making-decisions in the climate sensitive sectors for socio-economic purposes as well as to manage risk arising from climate variability and climate change.

Therefore, it says seasonal prediction is relevant only to seasonal time scale and relatively large areas.

Nevertheless, local and month to month variation, it says may occur and users are strongly advised to contact the department for further interpretation, updates and additional guidance. ENDS