17 Dec 2017

The Department of Meteorological Services (DMS) says the northern parts of the country are expected to receive largely normal to above-normal rains from January to March next year.

Addressing the media on the seasonal rainfall outlook last Friday, the acting director of the department, Mr Othata Mmolotsi  said they have reviewed the state of climate change and analysed rainfall prospects for January to March 2018.  

Mr Mmolotsi said the south eastern and south western parts of the country as well as the north west (Southern, South East, Kgatleng, Kweneng, Ghanzi, Kgalagadi and the western parts of Ngamiland) were expected to receive normal to above normal rains.

He said the eastern and north eastern parts of the country which were the southern parts of the Central District and North East District were expected to receive largely normal rainfall.

He said overall a moderately wet season was expected from January to March 2018, adding that it was mainly due to the presence of a weak La Nina.

He explained that the conclusion reached was based on the state of the sea surface temperatures over the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans.

Mr Mmolotsi said weak La Nina conditions were present and expected to persist throughout summer.

“It is expected that below average sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean and weak La Nina conditions will continue to have a major impact on the weather and climate patterns over Botswana although they are not the only influencing factors for rainfall,” he said.

On the other hand, principal meteorologist, Mr John Stegling said the warming and cooling of the Equatorial Pacific Ocean, south western and north western parts of the Indian Ocean and additional influence from the Atlantic Ocean determined how rainfall over Botswana would evolve during the season.

Mr Stegling said other factors include the presence of tropical cyclones in the Indian Ocean. BOPA