Flood levels on the Zambezi

by Zambezi

16 February 2011

Recent record rainfall has resulted in unusually high levels of the Zambezi River. Heavy rain across southern Africa has put relief agencies on alert.

The Southern Africa Floods Situation Update by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) released on 9 February reports that:
• In Mozambique, 23,632 families have been affected by floods and around 20,000 ha of crops damaged
• With more rainfall forecasted for much of southern Africa, it is expected that localized flooding will continue to occur across the region, especially in Mozambique and Madagascar

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/VVOS-8DWLQB?OpenDocument&query=zambezi

According to our man on the ground in Victoria Falls, Chris Worden:

• Katima Mulilo, upstream of the Victoria Falls on the Zambezi, recorded record levels for December AND January
• Kariba Dam floodgates were opened on 22 January in anticipation of a huge flood in the next few months
• 37mm of rain was recorded on 25 January and 24mmm on 26 January in Victoria Falls

Chris says: “I look at the satellite map http://www.weather.com/maps/maptype/satelliteworld/africasatellite_large.html twice a day.

“All four Kariba dam gates that were open are closed now. Reports I have received here is that many Zambian camps are under water, just rooftops protruding. Mana Pools HQ is under water, the parks authority are camping at the airstrip!

“However the water should subside fairly quickly. We have the Botswana upper high over us at the moment, it’s not budging.

“Bottom line is everything seems to have occurred two months early.

Water levels on the Zambezi have continued to rise in most places according to figures released on 9 February by the Hydrological Services in the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry. At certain points such as Chavuma on the Angola/ Zambia border, the River is now 1.24 metres higher than the same time last year. If trends from previous years are to be mirrored, levels are unlikely to peak until March/April.

Commenting on the current flood levels, John Berry, Managing Director at Zambezi says: “We have floods every season but this is the third year in a row of particularly heavy flooding. It’s come earlier than usual and is dramatic now, but we expect the season to settle down from June as is usually the pattern.”