Zimbabwe faces erratic, below-normal rains this season

Zimbabwe is headed for an erratic start to the 2026-2027 rainfall season, with below-normal rainfall projected across the country between October and December, according to the Meteorological Services Department (MSD).

In its 2026-2027 seasonal rainfall outlook released yesterday, MSD warned that several parts of the country could experience no effective onset of the rainy season.

"There is an increased chance of below-normal rainfall across the entire country during this period," MSD said.

The weather forecaster said the season was expected to start erratically, with a significant portion of the country likely to receive insufficient rainfall during the October to December period.

October and November are forecast to remain predominantly dry across the country, although some northern areas could receive normal to below-normal rainfall in October.

Slight relief is expected in December, particularly in southern Matabeleland South, the extreme southern parts of the Midlands and south-western Masvingo, where normal to above-normal rainfall is forecast.

The rest of the country is expected to continue experiencing below-normal rainfall during the month.

MSD also issued an outlook for the January-February-March 2027 period, forecasting normal to below-normal rainfall in southern and western parts of the country.

The remainder of Zimbabwe is expected to receive below-normal rainfall, while warmer-than-normal temperatures are projected to persist throughout the period.

MSD said it would issue an updated forecast covering the final three months of the rainfall season as the season progresses.