Hot, dry conditions to persist from January

Mbongeni Mguni | Monday December 25, 2023 01:06

In a mid-season update, meteorologists said El Nino conditions, which are associated with drier conditions over the country, would continue through the second half of the season. El Nino is expected to ease to neutral between May and July next year.

“El Niño is favoured throughout the forecast period and the implication of the current conditions are that there is an enhanced probability of below-normal precipitation forecasted for Botswana, an increased risk of drought over some areas, above normal temperatures expected over the entire country, frequent dry spell and heat waves are predicted and overall, a relatively hot and dry season,” the Department said in a statement.

The seasonal outlook for January to April 2024 is as follows: • Rainfall over Kgalagadi is predicted to be normal to below normal. Normal rainfall over Kgalagadi ranges from 80mm to 120mm • Rainfall over the rest of the country (Northeast, Ngamiland, Chobe, Central, Ghanzi, Southeast, Kgatleng, Kweneng and Southern districts) is predicted to be below normal. Normal rainfall ranges from 180mm over Southern District to 320mm over Chobe • Temperatures over the whole country are forecasted to be above normal. Normal mean temperatures range between 31ºC in the east and 34ºC to the southwest