First flood wave reaches Zambezi River
• Water levels at 5.15m
"The water is pushing into the eastern Zambezi floodplains. Early flood alerts and readiness are advised," the agriculture ministry's hydrological services said.
Ellanie SmitWINDHOEK
The Zambezi River has reached an alarming level, raising serious concerns that the region might experience heavy floods.
Water levels stood at 5.15 metres on Thursday, compared to 2.31m last year at the same time.
According to the agriculture ministry’s hydrological services, the region’s first flood wave reached the Zambezi River at Katima Mulilo last week, with water levels rising by more than two metres in seven days.“The river level passed the five-metre mark, meaning that the water is pushing into the eastern Zambezi floodplains. Early flood alerts and readiness are advised.”
Monitor closely
Water levels in the Cuvelai-Etosha basin’s upper central and eastern channels are gradually receding, according to the ministry, but they remain high.
“For perspective, this year’s water levels are much higher than the levels reached during the same period in 2009, 2010 and 2011, but have not yet reached the maximum levels of 2011. What happens later during this rainy season will depend on the further rains to come, and only meteorological experts can predict this.”
According to a report, the flooding and rainfall development deserve close monitoring during this rainy season, both from the headwaters of the Cuvelai River in Angola and locally.
Dams
The level of the Kavango River at Rundu decreased by 4cm since Wednesday morning to 5.71m.
The water level remains higher compared to the same period last year, when it was at 4.79 m.
Meanwhile, the country’s central and southern dams received inflow due to good rains in their catchment areas over the past few weeks. According to last week’s dam bulletin, the major supply dams in the central and southern parts of the country are at 44.6% and 80.2% of capacity respectively.
The country’s major dams stood at 71.8% of total capacity last Monday.
The Zambezi River has reached an alarming level, raising serious concerns that the region might experience heavy floods.
Water levels stood at 5.15 metres on Thursday, compared to 2.31m last year at the same time.
According to the agriculture ministry’s hydrological services, the region’s first flood wave reached the Zambezi River at Katima Mulilo last week, with water levels rising by more than two metres in seven days.“The river level passed the five-metre mark, meaning that the water is pushing into the eastern Zambezi floodplains. Early flood alerts and readiness are advised.”
Monitor closely
Water levels in the Cuvelai-Etosha basin’s upper central and eastern channels are gradually receding, according to the ministry, but they remain high.
“For perspective, this year’s water levels are much higher than the levels reached during the same period in 2009, 2010 and 2011, but have not yet reached the maximum levels of 2011. What happens later during this rainy season will depend on the further rains to come, and only meteorological experts can predict this.”
According to a report, the flooding and rainfall development deserve close monitoring during this rainy season, both from the headwaters of the Cuvelai River in Angola and locally.
Dams
The level of the Kavango River at Rundu decreased by 4cm since Wednesday morning to 5.71m.
The water level remains higher compared to the same period last year, when it was at 4.79 m.
Meanwhile, the country’s central and southern dams received inflow due to good rains in their catchment areas over the past few weeks. According to last week’s dam bulletin, the major supply dams in the central and southern parts of the country are at 44.6% and 80.2% of capacity respectively.
The country’s major dams stood at 71.8% of total capacity last Monday.
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