Another heatwave feared

FOLLOWING a cool and rainy week and weekend in most parts of the country, it is expected that sunny and hot weather will return from today.

This is despite Cyclone Funso which is making its way across the Mozambique Channel. The Namibia Meteorological Service (NMS) says another heatwave is expected across the country later this week, but a close eye will be kept on the cyclone and its possible impact on Namibia’s weather. According to the weekly outlook of the NMS, the thundershowers experienced this past weekend over the Caprivi, Kavango, Otjozondjupa, Khomas and Omaheke regions will diminish as from today. ‘Rainfall activities will be confined to the north-eastern parts mainly’, the forecast states. ‘The last part of the week will be characterised by high temperatures and sunny weather over much of the country’, the NMS outlook states. According to the NMS, Cyclone Funso is ‘expected to intensify and cause very strong winds, heavy rains and rough seas’ in Mozambique. Rainfall figures collected since Friday showed light rains over most parts of Namibia, including the far south. The highest rainfall was recorded in the Omaheke Region. Gobabis measured 66,8 millimetres of rain from Friday to Sunday. In Windhoek, rainfall measurements ranged from between 20mm and a little over 30mm over the weekend. In the north-east, Katima Mulilo received 36,8mm on Friday and a further 19,8mm on Saturday. At Otjiwarongo, 24,2 millimetres were measured on Friday and a further 3,6 millimetres on Saturday. According to the Hydrological Service’s daily flood bulletin, the water levels in the Kunene, Kavango, Kwando and Zambezi rivers continue to rise. However, the flows in the Cuvelai oshanas from high rainfall last week are receding. ‘At this stage, there is no immediate major flooding risk anticipated,’ the flood bulletin states.