Met Department Forecasts Torrential Rains Across The Country
The Meteorological Services Department (MSD) has forecasted heavy rains across the country between Thursday 29 December 2022 and Tuesday 3 January 2023 beginning in the north and spreading southwards.
In a weather advisory issued on Tuesday, 26 December 2022, the Met Department said the wet spell is due to the drifting into the country of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).
The ITCZ is a zone of low pressure that forms near the Earth’s equator resulting in a band of heavy rainfall. MSD said:
Moisture should start drifting into the country from Zambia through all Mashonaland Provinces from Thursday 29 December 2022.
This should gradually spread southwards to cover Matabeleland North, northern parts of Midlands, northern districts of Manicaland, Bulawayo Metropolitan and Harare Metropolitan Provinces into New Year, with a cloud band expected to enhance rainfall over Matabeleland South and Masvingo Provinces during the first week of January 2023.
Thus much of the country should receive rain showers by the close of the first week of January 2023.
Hazards to watch out for during this period include lightning, strong winds and localised hailstorms.
The Met Department also warned the public to watch out for localised heavy rains in excess of 50mm with lightning and hail stones in some places, blown off rooftops, loose debris and fallen trees due to strong winds.
