Rainfall outlook for 2004-5 ‘looking good’

THE extreme northern parts of Namibia will have an increased chance of receiving normal to above-normal rainfall from October to December this year.

According to the Namibia Meteorological Service (NMS), this prediction was made by the Southern Africa Climate Outlook Forum held in Zimbabwe earlier this month to come up with a consensus forecast for the SADC region. In a speech delivered by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communication, Elise Ndjamba, Minister Moses Amweelo commended the NMS for its efforts to disseminate forecast information well in advance.He stressed that all sectors of the national economy depend greatly on weather and climate information.”As farming depends mainly on rainfall, it is crucial to know in advance the likelihood of the rainfall patterns in order to make decisions on optimum agricultural activities and other human activities,” Amweelo said.Amweelo also commended the NMS for installing automatic weather stations at Otjiwarongo, Outjo, and Ondangwa.Currently, there are 10 automatic weather stations in different parts of the country, while a new station is to be installed at Walvis Bay.Amweelo disclosed that his Ministry is obtaining 15 more automatic stations to be installed in data-sparse regions of the North, where most rain-generating systems originate.In addition, plans are afoot to buy a modern weather radar that will facilitate the early detection of devastating storms such as those that affected Mozambique, Namibia and several other parts of southern Africa in 2000, he said.- NampaIn a speech delivered by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communication, Elise Ndjamba, Minister Moses Amweelo commended the NMS for its efforts to disseminate forecast information well in advance.He stressed that all sectors of the national economy depend greatly on weather and climate information.”As farming depends mainly on rainfall, it is crucial to know in advance the likelihood of the rainfall patterns in order to make decisions on optimum agricultural activities and other human activities,” Amweelo said.Amweelo also commended the NMS for installing automatic weather stations at Otjiwarongo, Outjo, and Ondangwa.Currently, there are 10 automatic weather stations in different parts of the country, while a new station is to be installed at Walvis Bay.Amweelo disclosed that his Ministry is obtaining 15 more automatic stations to be installed in data-sparse regions of the North, where most rain-generating systems originate.In addition, plans are afoot to buy a modern weather radar that will facilitate the early detection of devastating storms such as those that affected Mozambique, Namibia and several other parts of southern Africa in 2000, he said.- Nampa