Small step for Namibia, huge leap for the African Wild Dog
February 8, 2013Namibia wetlands: Awareness campaign launched
February 11, 2013Drought is in the dry, asthmatic air …
In January, fans and air-conditioners worked their butts off. In every nook and cranny across Namibia people gravitated towards coolers and breezers and shady trees. Every citizen tried to out-do their fellow Namibians when it came to telling stories of the hottest day, the hottest place, the worst temperature taken in the shade – like, ever!
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A number of grocery stores had to purchase emergency cooling systems – but the meat and milk and fizzy drinks refused to become ice cold no matter what.
Whether a farmer, politician, house wife or Grade 10 teenager – the small talk and the in depth talk revolved around the heat and the lack of rain.
And after a week in which the meteorologists at the Namibia Meteorology Society frantically collected data, calculated and drew up maps, they concluded that indeed, January 2013, was something for the record books.
Some of the highlights in their report NAMIBIA RAINFALL PERFORMANCE – JANUARY 2013 included:
- January 2013 was dominated by very dry conditions
- patches of moderate rainfall occurred only in the north-eastern parts of the country and mainly during the first half of the month
- the high temperatures amplified the rainfall deficiencies to conditions reminiscent of drought in many places
- For Windhoek in particular, January 2013 has had the lowest rainfall since 1996
- the cumulative performance depicts below normal levels of rainfall performance in the greater part of the country
The good news – because there is …
Paul van Schalkwyk www.tala.com.na
The report did contain a sliver of hope.
The outlook from 8 to 14 February is more in line with normal rainfall patterns. According to the NMS ‘significant rain is anticipated throughout the country over the weekend (09 February – 10 February). This is likely to clear off in the south and west on Sunday.
Sporadic rainfall activities will be confined to the northeastern and eastern parts of the country with heavier falls towards the end of the period.
