News / National
Met Department warns of a very cold winter
27 Apr 2012 at 17:04hrs | Views
The Meteorological Services Department has warned of a very cold winter and has urged farmers to protect their crops from frost damage with the cold season beginning in the next few weeks.
Projections are that some provinces will this winter experience extreme cold temperatures as low as -14 degrees Celsius, hence the need for farmers to protect their crops.
Senior Metrological Department Officer, Mr Jonathan Chifuna said horticulture, market gardening and winter crop farmers should take precautionary measures such as overnight irrigation and smoke screening to protect their crops from frost damage.
"May and June might get quite cold and the country might also experience heavy thunder storms. So to this end there is need for some kind of protection to the crops so that they survive this winter," Mr Chifuna said.
Meanwhile, Zimbabweans who spoke to ZBC News said the early coming of the winter season might be a sign of climate change.
The Metrological Services Department says traditionally, cold places such as Gweru, Matopos and Chivhu continue to show a downward trend and notable low temperatures of less than 5 degrees Celsius.
Projections are that the winter season might in some areas be severely cold and might see the June 13, 1968 record level of minus 14 degrees recorded at Matopos being equalled.
Projections are that some provinces will this winter experience extreme cold temperatures as low as -14 degrees Celsius, hence the need for farmers to protect their crops.
Senior Metrological Department Officer, Mr Jonathan Chifuna said horticulture, market gardening and winter crop farmers should take precautionary measures such as overnight irrigation and smoke screening to protect their crops from frost damage.
"May and June might get quite cold and the country might also experience heavy thunder storms. So to this end there is need for some kind of protection to the crops so that they survive this winter," Mr Chifuna said.
Meanwhile, Zimbabweans who spoke to ZBC News said the early coming of the winter season might be a sign of climate change.
The Metrological Services Department says traditionally, cold places such as Gweru, Matopos and Chivhu continue to show a downward trend and notable low temperatures of less than 5 degrees Celsius.
Projections are that the winter season might in some areas be severely cold and might see the June 13, 1968 record level of minus 14 degrees recorded at Matopos being equalled.
Source - Zbc
