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TMA issues general rainfall outlook
2006-03-13 07:37:44
By Lydia Shekighenda
Tanzania Meteorogical Agency (TMA) Director General Mohamed Mhita has urged for precautions against effects of climate changes.
Speaking in Dar es Salaam last Friday on the climate outlook beginning March to May, Mhita said that rainfall distribution indicated that there would be variations in different parts of the country.
’’Due to rainfall variations some areas will experience normal or below normal rainfall while others would get above normal rainfall,’’ Mhita said.
He said some of the precautionary measures to be taken include: Growing short maturing crops, prevention of pests outbreak and conservation of water.
He also said farmers should seek advice from agricultural extension officers.
Mhita said the outlook for March to May rainfall season indicates that many parts of the bimodal areas are expected to receive normal rainfall while few areas would get below normal or deficit rainfall.
Areas expected to receive normal or below normal rainfall include the northern coast and hinterland, the Isles of Zanzibar and Pemba, northern and Lake Victoria zone.
Most of the unimodal areas such as western and southern coast are expected to continue getting normal to above normal rainfall except for the central areas which include Singida, Eastern Tabora and Northern Iringa which are expected to get rainfall deficit, Mhita said.
Explaining on the amount of rainfall, Dr Mhita said anything below 75 per cent of long term average categorized as below normal, while those ranging from 75 to 125 per cent are categorised as near normal.
He added that a greater amount of more than 125 per cent of long term averages are categorised as above normal.
The current status of seasonal forecasting allows for prediction of spatial and temporal averages and may not fully account for physical and dynamical factors which influence short term national climate variability, he said.
’’Users of this outlook are urged to make good use of the daily, ten days and monthly updates issued by the agency,’’ he said.
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