HARARE – Heavy rainfall is set to usher in the New Year with meteorologists predicting a wet crossover into 2023 this Saturday.
The Meteorological Services Department (MSD) has indicated heavy rainfall will be accompanied by lightning, strong winds and localised hailstorms.
According to the weatherman, the rains that will start spreading from the northern parts of the country, to the south have been caused by the drifting of the Inter-tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), which is the region that circles the Earth, near the equator, where the trade winds of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres come together.
As the clocks strikes midnight and ushers in 2023 on Saturday, there is a 70% chance of rain in Harare and a 30% chance in Bulawayo, according to the weatherman.
“Watch out for localised heavy rains (in excess of 50mm) with lightning and hailstorms in some places,” said the MSD in a statement.
MSD added that moisture should start drifting into the country from Zambia through all Mashonaland provinces and will spread towards other parts of the country.
“This should gradually spread southwards to cover Matabeleland North, northern parts of Midlands, northern districts of Manicaland, Bulawayo Metropolitan and Harare Metropolitan provinces into the New Year, with a cloud band expected to enhance rainfall over Matabeleland South and Masvingo provinces during the first week of January 2023.”
The MSD department advised people to stay indoors during thunderstorms and to be cautious if they are to travel.
