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Floods in Lusaka, Senanga not too severe – ZMD

Floods in Lusaka, Senanga not too severe – ZMD
By Edwin Mbulo in Livingstone
Wed 17 Feb. 2010, 04:00 CAT

THE Zambia Meteorological Department (ZDM) has revealed that flash floods have been reported in areas around Lusaka and Senanga districts but the extent is not too severe.

According to the crop weather bulletin for February released by Southern Province acting meteorological officer Munalula Mate yesterday, some areas in Lusaka and Senanga had experienced flash floods but crops would not be affected.

The bulletin stated that generally maize crops in most parts of the country had reached tasselling and grain filling stages and were doing fine.

The ZMD stated that in some parts of Eastern Province, some crops had been affected by the dry spell, which was experienced earlier in the season.

However, the bulletin stated that some maize which was planted earlier was ripe and already on the market in some areas.

“The Lusaka plateau groundwater monitoring network comprises 36 observation boreholes dedicated for regular groundwater level measurements and 20 production boreholes dedicated for regular water quality assessment. During the dekad ending 10th February 2010, additional rainfall amount received at Lusaka I. Airport, Lusaka C. Airport and Mount Makulu from 30th January 2010 to 7th February 2010 has resulted in the rapid groundwater level rise and induced surface flooding in most areas of Lusaka city where the water table is ranging from 0.5m to 3m below ground surface,” the bulletin read in part.

“Some of the affected areas include Kamwala South, Misisi, John Laing and Kanyama. An increase in the flow from the main recharge area is also evident and the recovery of the water table is now estimated at 55 per cent when compared to the lowest groundwater levels recorded in the second week of November 2009. During the next dekad, the water table is expected to start dropping due to decrease in the rainfall activities.”

The ZMD stated that most stations had already attained the normal rainfall as at February 10, 2010.

“Above normal rainfall has been recorded in some parts of the country which include Chipata with a surplus of 80 per cent, Mount Makulu 54 per cent, Mongu 52 per cent, Zambezi 51 per cent, Lusaka city 25 per cent, Lusaka International Airport 23 per cent and Misamfu with a surplus of 21 per cent,” the bulletin stated.

“The normal rainfall range lies between 20 and -20 per cent. Below normal rainfall has been recorded in Sesheke and some parts of Southern Province where Magoye has a deficit of -33 per cent. During the dekad of 1- 10th February, a deep low pressure system was sited over the southern parts of the country therefore allowing moist north-westerly airflow to affect most parts of the country.

“This resulted into moderate to heavy rainfall over much of Zambia with lighter falls experienced over the extreme northern parts of the country. However, towards the end of the dekad, the ridging of the high pressure system over eastern South Africa reduced rains over most parts of the country.”

The bulletin stated that the highest recorded rainfall during the dekad was 235 millimetres (mm) in nine days from Mfuwe followed by 208 mm from Zambezi and Petauke in nine and six days respectively.

It stated that Lusaka City Airport had 198 mm in seven days.

“While Lusaka International Airport had 188 mm in six days Solwezi 185 mm, Mount Makalu 170 mm, Chipata 164 mm and Kabwe 158 mm in seven days. The lowest recorded was 9 mm in Sesheke in two days and no rainfall was recorded in Livingstone during the dekad. Most stations reported rain days of more than four days,” the statement read in part.

“The cumulative rainfall amounts since the start of season 1st July, 2009 indicates that most stations have recorded rainfall totals ranging between 500 mm and 900 mm. However, more than 900 mm of cumulative rainfall has been recorded in Zambezi, Mwinilunga, Solwezi, Mongu, Chipata, Kawambwa, Misamfu and Mount Makulu. Some parts of Southern and Western provinces have accumulated amounts less than 500mm. The highest cumulative total of 1,196 mm has been recorded in Chipata with a lowest of 377 mm being recorded in Sesheke.”

Labels: FLOODS, LUSAKA, ZMD

posted by MrK @ 3:32 PM