Dam levels much better than last season
Namibia is starting the new rainy season with dams at a much more reassuring level than last year.
ELLANIE SMIT
WINDHOEK
With the rainy season about to start, the average level of the country's dams stands at 45.9%, in comparison to 23.6% this time last season.
In the central areas, the average stands at 66.2%, while last season they were only 14.7% full.
The Swakoppoort Dam is currently 77.1% full, while last season it stood at a mere 6.7%. Meanwhile, Von Bach is 81.5% full compared to last season's 38.7%.
The Omatako Dam, which was empty last season, is now 35.2% full, while the Friedenau Dam's level stands at 42.9% and the Goreangab Dam at 91.5%. Last season, these dams were at 23.5% and 100% respectively.
Southern dams
In the south, the average dam levels are at 45.5%, compared to last season's 29%.
This, however, does not include measurements of water in the Neckartal Dam.
The Hardap Dam stands at 34%, Naute Dam at 77%, Oanob Dam at 85.2%, Driehuik Dam at 9.4% and the Bondels Dam at 6.1%. Last season, the levels of these dams were 14.3%, 80.4% and 44.4% respectively, while Driehuik and Bondels dams were empty.
The average of the dams in the Gobabis area stand at 46.2%, compared to last season's 1.2%.
Meanwhile, the Otjivero main dam is currently 49.2% full, while last season the level was only 2.1%.
The Tilda Viljoen Dam is 28.1% full and the Daan Viljoen Dam stands at 29.1%. Both of these dams were less than 2% full last season.
Northern dams
In the north, the Olushandja Dam is 15.9% full in comparison to last season when the level was 26.9%.
However, the Omaruru Delta Dam and the Omatjenne Dam are both empty, the same as last season.
The latest outlook, produced by regional climate experts, forecasts that there will be normal to-above-normal rainfall across most of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) between October 2020 and March 2021. The consensus forecast was produced by the 24th Southern African Regional Climate Outlook Forum (SARCOF 24) at the end of August.
SARCOF forecast
The SARCOF forecast is divided into two parts, covering October to December 2020 and January to March 2021.
The forecast shows that the bulk of the SADC region is likely to receive high rainfall termed normal to above-normal between October and December.
The second half of the agricultural season, which covers the period January to March 2021, is expected to receive normal to above-normal rainfall for the entire SADC region.
The positive forecast points to improvement of river flows and dam levels in most parts of the SADC region, a development that is crucial for irrigation. The expected good rains will be an opportunity for water harvesting in most of the region.
WINDHOEK
With the rainy season about to start, the average level of the country's dams stands at 45.9%, in comparison to 23.6% this time last season.
In the central areas, the average stands at 66.2%, while last season they were only 14.7% full.
The Swakoppoort Dam is currently 77.1% full, while last season it stood at a mere 6.7%. Meanwhile, Von Bach is 81.5% full compared to last season's 38.7%.
The Omatako Dam, which was empty last season, is now 35.2% full, while the Friedenau Dam's level stands at 42.9% and the Goreangab Dam at 91.5%. Last season, these dams were at 23.5% and 100% respectively.
Southern dams
In the south, the average dam levels are at 45.5%, compared to last season's 29%.
This, however, does not include measurements of water in the Neckartal Dam.
The Hardap Dam stands at 34%, Naute Dam at 77%, Oanob Dam at 85.2%, Driehuik Dam at 9.4% and the Bondels Dam at 6.1%. Last season, the levels of these dams were 14.3%, 80.4% and 44.4% respectively, while Driehuik and Bondels dams were empty.
The average of the dams in the Gobabis area stand at 46.2%, compared to last season's 1.2%.
Meanwhile, the Otjivero main dam is currently 49.2% full, while last season the level was only 2.1%.
The Tilda Viljoen Dam is 28.1% full and the Daan Viljoen Dam stands at 29.1%. Both of these dams were less than 2% full last season.
Northern dams
In the north, the Olushandja Dam is 15.9% full in comparison to last season when the level was 26.9%.
However, the Omaruru Delta Dam and the Omatjenne Dam are both empty, the same as last season.
The latest outlook, produced by regional climate experts, forecasts that there will be normal to-above-normal rainfall across most of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) between October 2020 and March 2021. The consensus forecast was produced by the 24th Southern African Regional Climate Outlook Forum (SARCOF 24) at the end of August.
SARCOF forecast
The SARCOF forecast is divided into two parts, covering October to December 2020 and January to March 2021.
The forecast shows that the bulk of the SADC region is likely to receive high rainfall termed normal to above-normal between October and December.
The second half of the agricultural season, which covers the period January to March 2021, is expected to receive normal to above-normal rainfall for the entire SADC region.
The positive forecast points to improvement of river flows and dam levels in most parts of the SADC region, a development that is crucial for irrigation. The expected good rains will be an opportunity for water harvesting in most of the region.
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