News / National
Heatwave hits Zimbabwe
08 Dec 2015 at 03:59hrs | Views
Another series of high temperatures has hit the country with low-lying areas expected to record extreme temperatures between 33 and 42 degrees celcius.
In a statement last week, the Meteorological Services Department (MSD) said high temperatures were a cause for concern in the country.
MSD said the extreme hot and dry conditions being experienced in some parts of the country would continue until Wednesday.
"The Meteorological Services Department wishes to advise the public in the following: Matabeleland South, Masvingo, much of Midlands, Manicaland and most of Mashonaland provinces, its forecast that high daytime temperatures will affect these areas during the period 3 to 9 December 2015," reads part of the statement.
"These temperatures are expected to range from 33 to 42 and are linked to hot and dry winds blowing from warmer regions near the Equator."
MSD said high temperatures could prompt violent thunder showers.
"The temperatures are however expected to reduce in Matabeleland North as a cloud system is affecting those areas,"
"It is also important to note that a combination of this moisture together with the heat can trigger violent thunder-showers that may be accompanied by hail and strong winds."
The department urged public to take cautionary measures such as drinking lots of water, avoiding prolonged stay in the sun saying hot and dry conditions were conducive for runway fires.
In the past weeks, the country recorded high temperatures which broke records set 60 years ago.
The scorching heat, which swept across most parts of the country, averaged between 33 and 43 degrees Celsius.
Recently two Air Zimbabwe airliners travelling to Kariba failed to land following extremely high temperatures which exceeded the prescribed 40 degrees Celsius required for landing and take-off purposes, forcing the planes to make a U-turn.
Airzim authorities have since highlighted that due to continued effects of heat waves posed by climate change, airliners could be forced to introduce different timetables.
Scientists have said one of the strongest El Nino events ever recorded is now under way and is affecting Zimbabwe as well as other countries.
In a statement last week, the Meteorological Services Department (MSD) said high temperatures were a cause for concern in the country.
MSD said the extreme hot and dry conditions being experienced in some parts of the country would continue until Wednesday.
"The Meteorological Services Department wishes to advise the public in the following: Matabeleland South, Masvingo, much of Midlands, Manicaland and most of Mashonaland provinces, its forecast that high daytime temperatures will affect these areas during the period 3 to 9 December 2015," reads part of the statement.
"These temperatures are expected to range from 33 to 42 and are linked to hot and dry winds blowing from warmer regions near the Equator."
MSD said high temperatures could prompt violent thunder showers.
"The temperatures are however expected to reduce in Matabeleland North as a cloud system is affecting those areas,"
"It is also important to note that a combination of this moisture together with the heat can trigger violent thunder-showers that may be accompanied by hail and strong winds."
The department urged public to take cautionary measures such as drinking lots of water, avoiding prolonged stay in the sun saying hot and dry conditions were conducive for runway fires.
In the past weeks, the country recorded high temperatures which broke records set 60 years ago.
The scorching heat, which swept across most parts of the country, averaged between 33 and 43 degrees Celsius.
Recently two Air Zimbabwe airliners travelling to Kariba failed to land following extremely high temperatures which exceeded the prescribed 40 degrees Celsius required for landing and take-off purposes, forcing the planes to make a U-turn.
Airzim authorities have since highlighted that due to continued effects of heat waves posed by climate change, airliners could be forced to introduce different timetables.
Scientists have said one of the strongest El Nino events ever recorded is now under way and is affecting Zimbabwe as well as other countries.
Source - the herald
