04 Sep 2019

The Department of Meteorogical Services officials say the country will receive normal to above normal rainfall in the rainfall season that starts next month.

One of the officials, Ms Verena Jansen, the north and western part of the country would receive normal to above normal rainfall during the first half of the season from October to December while the eastern parts would receive normal to below normal rainfall, whereas below normal rainfall is expected over the south east.

Temperatures for this period, she said, were expected to be above normal except over the north where normal to below normal temperatures were anticipated.

 Ms Jansen highlighted that the country should anticipate normal to above normal rains in the  second half of the season from January to March with the north and southwest being particularly above average with temperature continuing to be higher than normal over the west but normal to below over the north and central areas.

 The aim of the rainfall and temperature outlook, Ms Jansen said, was for it to be used for the 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.

She said the outlook was relevant for seasonal time scale and relatively large areas. 

“Local and month-to-month variation might occur as the season progresses, users are therefore strongly advised to contact the department for interpretation of the forecast for finer details and additional guidance,” she said.

Acting director of the department, Mr Radithupa Radithupa, said the outlook project was a milestone event.

He said the information provided should be used when venturing into farming and it would assist on the climate risks.

Mr Radithupa said it was an obligation for the department to offer a viewpoint on the rainfall and temperatures as it prepared for, and reduced the loss of life and properties.

Meanwhile Chairman of Botswana Commercial Crop Producers Association, Mr Quett Rabai said the department should offer the farmers specific area outlook since some areas hardly received rainfall even though their region was expected to experience rainfall and this resulted in farmers losing their crops.

Farmers also pointed that areas like Radisele always get rainfall regardless of the region prediction hence they suggested that the Meteorological department should carry out a scientific research on those areas.end