INAM forecasts normal to above-normal rains between October and March

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INAM forecasts normal to above-normal rains between October and March

3:37 CAT | 14 Sep 2020

File photo: Folha de Maputo

Mozambique’s National Meteorological Institute (INAM) is forecasting normal to slightly above normal rainfall in the southern and central regions in the October-March rainy season. For the north of the country, INAM forecasts normal to below normal rainfall.

The rains will be a consequence of the ‘La Ninã’ phenomenon, characterised by regular rains. The same phenomenon will be weak and of short duration, without much impact in the north, while in the south, temperatures will be cool.

Despite the forecasts, the Ministry of Public Works and Water Resources foresees flooding in parts of country – especially in the basins of the Maputo, Incomáti and Umbeluzi rivers – all at a moderate level later in the year.

There are also predictions of floods in the Licungo basin in the centre of the country in the first months of next year, making it necessary to decrease water levels in some dams, such as Cahora Bassa, starting next week.

According to Agostinho Vilanculo, from the Ministry of Public Works and Water Resources, the Cahora Bassa dam currently stands at 81% of capacity, which is enough for the period preceding the rainy season.

Vilanculo explained that the discharges from Cahora Bassa – of two to three thousand cubic metres – should not alarm the population, since the process aims to prevent any great impact on communities of any floods, should they occur.

In turn, citizens’ health is expected to feature diarrheal diseases and malaria, with the highest risk in the provinces of Tete, Zambézia and Nampula.

The National Institute for Disaster Management (INGC) says that it is already working on contingency plans to deal with the effects of the natural phenomena envisaged by INAM. Without advancing numbers, INGC says that reserves adequate for the coming rainy season are already available.

Information became available on Friday during the 7th National Climate Forecast Forum, chaired by Minister of Transport and Communications Janfar Abdulai, who gave assurances that plans for the mitigation of natural disasters were being elaborated.

The roads and energy sectors were participating in the forum for the first time, because of the impact of climatic events on road and electricity infrastructure.

Source: Folha de Maputo