25 Jan 2013

The year 2013 looks a fertile one after it started off with heavy rains covering most parts of the country. Rains are expected to continue until end of March.

Department of Meteorological Services's forecast show that the country will continue to experience normal to above-normal rainfall.

In an interview, department of meteorological services senior meteorologist, Mr Charles Molongwana said the northern part of the country, which covers Ngamiland, Chobe and the northern parts of the Central District are expected to receive normal to above-normal rains.

Mr Molongwana said the south western parts of the country which covers Kgalagadi, Ghanzi, and western parts of the Kweneng district had an increased possibility to receive normal to above normal rainfall that would range from 170mm to 240 mm on average.

He said there was also increased chance of normal to below-normal rainfall over South east, Kgatleng, eastern parts of the Kweneng, eastern parts of Southern, North East and the southern part of the Central District, which will receive rainfall with value range from 190 mm to 260 mm.

A fortnight ago, the country experienced heavy rainfall with the north western part of Botswana receiving the highest rainfalls, particularly at Ngamiland from Tsau Primary school at 217 millimetres.

Mr Molongwana said rainfalls formed part of the prospects of the rainy season and fell within the average expected rains.

Heavy rainfalls were also recorded in the central part of the country particularly in Dukwi where 196mm was recorded.

The rainfall began in the north western part of the country flowing down to the central and poured down on the southern part of the country.

“The rains were caused by two weather systems called the surface truff and the easterly truff, thus the combination of the two systems in the atmosphere causing moisture to fall in large quantities,” he said.

He explained that the surface truff drew a lot of moisture from the tropics thus causing a lot of rain while the easterly truff brought a lot of instability in the atmosphere thus causing rains through winds. ENDS