Dams more than 70% full
• Normal to above-normal
rainfall expected
The average level of the country's dams is slightly lower than last year, but still above 70%.
Ellanie Smit
WINDHOEK
Even though the country has started to receive its first rains for the year, there have only been slight inflows into some dams in the central area of Namibia.
Thus far, inflows have been recorded in the Omatako and Von Bach dams.
According to the latest dam bulletin issued by NamWater on Monday, five of the country’s storage dams are still more than 70% full.
The total average level of Namibia’s dams at the beginning of this week stood at 71.4%, in comparison to last season’s 73.2%. In the central areas of Namibia, the average dam levels stood at 42.7%, compared to last season when it was 58.6% full.
The Swakoppoort Dam is now at 73.3% of its capacity, the Von Bach is 31.6% full and the level of the Omatako Dam is at 0.5%.
Meanwhile the Friendenhau Dam is 74.2% full and the Goreangab Dam is at 100%.
Southern, eastern dams
In the south, the average level of dams stands at 80.3%, compared to last season’s 79.7%.
Namibia’s largest reservoir, the Neckartal Dam, is at 93.7% of its capacity. This means it presently has 803 562 million cubic metres of water. Last season, it stood at 92.5%.
Meanwhile, the Hardap Dam is currently 48.5% full, the Naute Dam is at 76.2% and the Oanob Dam at 65.7%. The Dreihuk Dam is at 4.9% and the Bondels Dam is empty. In the east of the country, the total average of dam levels is a mere 13.4%, far less than last season when it was 42.2% full.
The Otjivero Main Dam is 19.9% full, the Tilda Viljoen Dam is at 34.9% and the Daan Viljoen Dam stands at 31.6%.
In other parts of the country, the Olushandja Dam in the Oshana Region is 12% full, compared to last season’s 14.1%. Both the Omaruru Delta Dam in Erongo and the Omatjenne Dam in Otjozondjupa are empty, the same as last season.
Rainfall outlook
According to the latest seasonal rainfall outlook issued by the Meteorological Service Division of Namibia, normal to above-normal rainfall is expected throughout the entire country from January to April.
In May, this forecast stays the same except over the extreme south-western part of Namibia, where normal to below-normal rainfall is expected.
“On average, most models predict 75% presence of a La Niña event over the Eastern Equatorial Pacific Ocean, thus indicating normal to above-normal rainfall during December to May.”
WINDHOEK
Even though the country has started to receive its first rains for the year, there have only been slight inflows into some dams in the central area of Namibia.
Thus far, inflows have been recorded in the Omatako and Von Bach dams.
According to the latest dam bulletin issued by NamWater on Monday, five of the country’s storage dams are still more than 70% full.
The total average level of Namibia’s dams at the beginning of this week stood at 71.4%, in comparison to last season’s 73.2%. In the central areas of Namibia, the average dam levels stood at 42.7%, compared to last season when it was 58.6% full.
The Swakoppoort Dam is now at 73.3% of its capacity, the Von Bach is 31.6% full and the level of the Omatako Dam is at 0.5%.
Meanwhile the Friendenhau Dam is 74.2% full and the Goreangab Dam is at 100%.
Southern, eastern dams
In the south, the average level of dams stands at 80.3%, compared to last season’s 79.7%.
Namibia’s largest reservoir, the Neckartal Dam, is at 93.7% of its capacity. This means it presently has 803 562 million cubic metres of water. Last season, it stood at 92.5%.
Meanwhile, the Hardap Dam is currently 48.5% full, the Naute Dam is at 76.2% and the Oanob Dam at 65.7%. The Dreihuk Dam is at 4.9% and the Bondels Dam is empty. In the east of the country, the total average of dam levels is a mere 13.4%, far less than last season when it was 42.2% full.
The Otjivero Main Dam is 19.9% full, the Tilda Viljoen Dam is at 34.9% and the Daan Viljoen Dam stands at 31.6%.
In other parts of the country, the Olushandja Dam in the Oshana Region is 12% full, compared to last season’s 14.1%. Both the Omaruru Delta Dam in Erongo and the Omatjenne Dam in Otjozondjupa are empty, the same as last season.
Rainfall outlook
According to the latest seasonal rainfall outlook issued by the Meteorological Service Division of Namibia, normal to above-normal rainfall is expected throughout the entire country from January to April.
In May, this forecast stays the same except over the extreme south-western part of Namibia, where normal to below-normal rainfall is expected.
“On average, most models predict 75% presence of a La Niña event over the Eastern Equatorial Pacific Ocean, thus indicating normal to above-normal rainfall during December to May.”
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