Zimbabwe weather experts have warned of possible flooding amid fears that a tropical storm that is gathering momentum over the Mozambique Channel could dump some heavy rains over parts of the country starting Monday.
The Meteorological Services Department said it is closely monitoring a tropical depression that is “evolving in the Mozambique Channel, which is expected to transform into a storm that could result in intense downpours over northern and some parts of southern Zimbabwe.
“This system will have a probable gradual re-intensification to the stage of a moderate tropical storm before it lands on the coast of Mozambique,” the department said in a statement.
It said Zimbabwe’s Manicaland, Masvingo and all Mashonaland provinces are expected to receive heavy rains exceeding 50 millimeters while light rains are anticipated over the southern Matabeleland and Midland regions.
“Based on the gusts of wind (which could approach or even locally exceed 100km/h near the coast of Mozambique), intense rains and strong winds are expected in the southern districts of Manicaland into Masvingo province on Monday,” the department said.
It added: “From Tuesday to Thursday, heavy rains (in excess of 50mm) are probable in Mashonaland provinces and Manicaland.”
Mozambique’s National Meteorological Institute has also warned of the possible formation of a tropical cyclone due to the high temperatures of the surface water in the southeast Indian Ocean and the Mozambique Channel.
The country’s National Delegation of Hydraulic Resources Management has also issued a flood risk alert for the Zambeze, Buzi, Pungoé, Licungo, Ligonha, Meluli, Montepuez, Messalo and Megaruma river basins as well as the coastal areas of Zambézia, Nampula and Cabo Delgado provinces.
JN/APA