Windhoek
More rain is expected in the northern parts of the country in the coming days, the Namibia Meteorological Services (MS) forecast yesterday.
Weather forecaster Odilo Kgobetsi told New Era that temperatures may drop in the next three to four days in northern Namibia, and that more rains are expected. A slight drop of temperatures is also expected in the southern parts of the country, he said.
Speaking about the scorching heat experienced in Windhoek and other parts of the country this summer, Kgobetsi said temperatures in the range of 38 to 40 degrees Celsius are normal in certain parts of the country in summer.
He also explained that the current heat wave being experienced in Windhoek and many parts of the country is normal for this time of year.
In Botswana, three people reportedly died recently as a result of an unprecedented heat wave.
“It might be normal for some parts of the country to experience the current temperatures; only that the persistence of it might not be normal to the human body,” said Kgobetsi, who maintained that the current temperatures may be within the normal range.
In a development related to adverse weather conditions, Xinhua nws agency reported that 11 people died as a result of heat stroke in South Africa. All the deaths were recorded in the North West Province, the provincial health department said.
The deceased were aged between 22 and 58 years, department spokesperson Tebogo Lekgethwane said.
Others suffering from heat stroke have been admitted to hospital, he said. The Mahikeng Provincial Hospital alone took in 16 people over the past three days. As a persistent heat wave continued unabated, the North West Province has been declared a drought-stricken area.
A drought response task team, consisting of goverment, organised agriculture and all municipalities in the province has been established. More than 19 000 applications for financial assistance from commercial and subsistence farmers have also been received as the heat wave has worsened dry conditions, not only in the province, but also in Free State and Limpopo – all maize producing regions.
The dry conditions are believed to be caused by cyclones in the Indian Ocean, which absorb moisture from the sub continent’s interior.
Crop farmers in the North West province have suffered an estimated loss of N$4.3 billion due to the drought.
Some South African farmers are doubtful whether there will be harvest at all due to recent dry conditions affecting most parts of the country.