El Nino To Worsen Drought In Botswana

Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Monday January 18, 2016 15:08

“These persistently dry conditions for the remaining rainfall season may worsen the current drought conditions, which the country is experiencing,” he said. “Overall, the deficit in rainfall is expected to continue over the remainder of the rainfall season mainly due to the persistent strong El Nino conditions.”

Addressing a press conference in Gaborone, Botshoma said this does not mean extreme rainfall may not occur as it normally does. Botshoma said the northern parts of Botswana would receive largely normal, with a tendency to above-normal, rains. He said south western and north eastern parts of the country were expected to receive normal to be below normal rains; and the south eastern and north western parts would receive below normal, with a tendency to normal, rains.

He explained that the drastic change in climatic and weather patterns made it difficult for his department to advise farmers. However, he cautioned farmers against planting after the first rains because they were often a false start of the rainy season.

The Department of Meteorological Services predicts that the El Nino conditions will continue to have a major impact on the weather and climate patterns over Botswana, affecting rainfall. Government has since declared Botswana drought-stricken.