Tropical storm heading straight for Namibia
Niël Terblanché
A DEEP low-pressure system currently situated over Namibia combined with tropical storm Chalane bearing down on the country from the east will see heavy downpours occurring over large parts of the country over the next few days.
The tropical storm has already made landfall in Mozambique on Monday and in Zimbabwe, flood warnings have been issued.
Moist air over central Africa is being drawn down over Namibia by the deep low-pressure system that is drawing the tropical storm in a westerly direction which is also contributing even more moisture that could accumulate and fall in the form of rain over large parts of the country.
The chief Meteorological Technician of the Meteorological Service of Namibia, Odillo Kgobetsi in a statement issued a warning about widespread and heavy rainstorms, where more than 50 millimetres of rain at a time can be expected over the northern, central, southern, and eastern regions of Namibia. He repeated the warning that flash floods will occur and more so from the 31st of December and onwards into the New Year’s weekend.
The warning was issued for the Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Ohangwena, Kavango East, Kavango West, Otjozondjupa, Khomas, Omaheke, Hardap, and southern parts of the Karas regions.
Kgobetsi said the deep low-pressure system over Namibia and Angola will remain stationary well into the coming weekend. Cyclone Chalane is moving on a westward trajectory towards Namibia where moisture from it will combine with the tropical air from the north by Friday and Saturday which will cause heavy thunderstorms and flash floods in places.
Heavy rain over the northern half of Namibia has been reported since Monday.
Rain showers, where 100 millimetres or more rain has fallen, have been reported in parts of the Otjozondjupa Region and parts of the Kavango East Region.
On Wednesday afternoon residents of Windhoek and the surrounding areas reported that good showers are pouring down. Windhoek North, Elisenheim, and Brakwater all received good rain that is expected to continue for the next few days.
Further north heavy cloud has been building up over paces like Okahandja, Outjo, and Otjiwarongo while good rains have been falling sporadically at places like Otavi, Grootfontein, and Tsumeb for the past three days.
Quelle: fb Informante
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