News / National
90-year-old rainfall records broken
05 Jan 2015 at 17:28hrs | Views
90-year old rainfall records were broken when Guruve recorded 145mm of rain while Rusape recorded 127,5mm in a week that saw four new records being set.
The highest recorded rainfall that Guruve had received prior to Saturday the 3rd of January 2015 was 90mm, recorded on the 30th of January 1924.
The district however recorded 145 mm on january 3 breaking the 90 year old record.
Rusape also received 127.5mm, breaking the record set on 21 December 1924.
In Mt Darwin, another new rainfall record was set when 116mm was received within 24 hours, surpassing the 74 mm recorded on the 18th of January 1965.
Mvurwi also recorded 166 mm, breaking the 1990 record of 108 mm.
Meteorological Services Department Director, Dr Amos Makarau said the rains received across the country in the past week were too heavy for Zimbabwe as the ground was already saturated.
"The rains broke known records and according to our forecast we will experience heavy rains across the country on the 10thof this month," said Dr Makarau.
Meanwhile, the Meteorological Services Department needs at least US$8 million to purchase weather radars which will enable them to locate precipitation, calculate its motion and estimate the type of rain, snow and hail.
Currently, the department can only forecast rains in the form of below normal, normal to above normal which many say is not accurate enough to warn people of floods.
The highest recorded rainfall that Guruve had received prior to Saturday the 3rd of January 2015 was 90mm, recorded on the 30th of January 1924.
The district however recorded 145 mm on january 3 breaking the 90 year old record.
Rusape also received 127.5mm, breaking the record set on 21 December 1924.
In Mt Darwin, another new rainfall record was set when 116mm was received within 24 hours, surpassing the 74 mm recorded on the 18th of January 1965.
Meteorological Services Department Director, Dr Amos Makarau said the rains received across the country in the past week were too heavy for Zimbabwe as the ground was already saturated.
"The rains broke known records and according to our forecast we will experience heavy rains across the country on the 10thof this month," said Dr Makarau.
Meanwhile, the Meteorological Services Department needs at least US$8 million to purchase weather radars which will enable them to locate precipitation, calculate its motion and estimate the type of rain, snow and hail.
Currently, the department can only forecast rains in the form of below normal, normal to above normal which many say is not accurate enough to warn people of floods.
Source - ZBC
