The Weather Forecast for February 2018 shows that the northern half of the country has increased chances for recording normal to above normal rainfall.
According to the weather bulletin obtained from the Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD), areas surrounding Lusaka, Southern, and Western provinces are likely to receive below to normal rainfall.
In the Month of March 2018, Muchinga and Northern provinces will have a high chance of receiving normal to above normal rainfall.
While, the southern part of the country will have increased chances of recording below to normal rainfall in the same month.
The ZMD bulletin revealed that the continued suppression of rainfall accompanied by high temperatures in selected parts of the country especially over the Southern half of the country has led to substantial moisture deficits which is likely to adversely affect the growth of crops.
The weather bulletin further highlighted that the poor rainfall distribution has negatively impacted the growth of maize at early stages especially in the southern half of the country.
Meanwhile, ZMD has further disclosed that the southern half of the country is expected to record flash floods despite the area recording below to normal rainfall.
The department explained that the flash floods will be induced by high intensity of rainfall events.
In a related development, ZMD said abnormal dryness will continue to strengthen and expand for the rest of January in selected parts of the country adding that, the sad development will place additional moisture stress on crops.
God have mercy on us. Amen
The Meteorological Dept is another useless govt institution. First they told us the rain pattern will normal, they never warned about a dry spell…..and the online weather forecast indicate next few days will be wet. No let us see who is credible..
The Patriotic Behind didn’t pray hard enough, that is why this sh!thole country is experiencing a reduced rainfall. The minister in charge of prayers has failed and should resign on moral grounds. Her boss should also resign for calling for ineffective prayers.
Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD) is very inaccurate, they ALWAYS have wrong predictions.
In November 2017, these are the same people who told us that Zambia will have normal rainfall through out the country. Never take these cadres serious.
God have mercy on us.
No the logic of God to me was simple, let cholera send then rains will start again.
It is PF who has caused, not so?
it just rained today. The Met didn’t say it will rain. False information.
It’s like mvula inajaila ma preyaz. So there may be no Kuomboka this year?
Southern Part of the country!!!! This rain pattern is also becoming tribal. Even nature is also practicing tribalism. What’s your take the Supreme leader for the great party UPND?
The problem the Met Dept rely too much on the data from other sources, we have not invested in any GIS technology that retrieves data of our own, we are just recipients from other users so the data we receive is often inaccurate. Having computers that are connected to the internet and subscribing to a GIS site does not mean you are a Met Dept! Satellites are key, SADC as a region should pool resources together to get a satellite into orbit for the sole purpose of tracking the weather.
This is actually a disaster!!!
Further to this the State should set aside early maturing maize seed to be given to farmers in these hard hit areas.
The minister of agriculture called this a temporal drought! Is this person serious with life???? People might starve as a result of poor preparedness, better to be safe than sorry!
Had more farmers planted maize at least we would have reduced the possibilty of low harvest now thanks to Dora’s and Mutati’s low maize price farmers were discouraged!
@ih: Please my brother never try to insult the Powers of God, you end up cursing your self. This has nothing to do with tribalism, neither UPND. Nimwe muleshamishe chalo. Always be careful before you utter any word from your mouth. a wise person does not talk any how.
Angola recently launched their own satellite for communications and all other necessary uses, including weather forecasting purposes. Kenya and Ethiopia have space programs and Kenya should launch their first satellite in to space in less than two months time. Ghana, South Africa, and Nigeria are among the other Sub-Saharan States with satellites in orbit. Zambia can ask Angola to provide data at a fee of course. The Angolan space project started in 2009 and has cost them upward of US$300 Million.
Fake forecast which does not give specifics . ” selected areas ” ” in some places ” Such is not helpful to stakeholders .
Does that mean cloudy to cloudy weather till further notice??
This is what we can call climate change not that hypothesis someone talked about Cholera cases being caused by climate change.
@ Jesus is Lord, you have missed the point. I did not mean the LORD is being tribal. It’s about the Supreme leader and his UPND crying foul every time a thing happens negatively affecting southern province I hope you follow the UPND politics well.
Typical zambian experts. Nchito zamuchibululu, expect no sense.
It has been raining in kitwe every day. So dont say over Zambia. Its just over your office mr weather man were it is not pouring.