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Rains pound Dar as TMA forecasts end of wet season
2006-05-10 09:02:25
By Pascal Shao
Tanzania Meteorological Agency (TMA) has said that ongoing rains are the climax of the long rains season that is forecast to end in the first week of June.
TMA Director General Dr Mohamed Mhita said that the rains that have been pounding the country since March will start dwindling at the beginning of next month.
’The long rains season is on until the end of May or the first week of June,’ he said.
Dr Mhita said that, by yesterday morning, Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere International Airport Meteorological Centre in Dar es Salaam had received the highest rainfall in the country with 90mm of rainfall, followed by Lyamungu in Kilimanjaro, which had recorded 44.1mm.
Dar es Salaam seaport received 41.8mm of rainfall, while Pemba had 40.1mm and Mtwara with 15.6mm rainfall were some of the regions that received high rainfall amounts in the country.
Dr Mhita said that Tanga, Arusha, Manyara, Kilimanjaro, Mahenge, Kilwa, Iringa and the Lake Zone regions – except Kagera, Singida, Dodoma and Songea – also received high rainfall.
TMA boss said that, so far, the rains have not caused major problems and advised wananchi to take seriously the weather reports they are given.
’When disasters occur, they should not blame the government for failing to inform them in advance,’ he said.
Dr Mhita also noted that the rains are a blessing to agriculturally endowed areas such as Pangani, Wami and Rufiji.
He cautioned that there was the potential of an outbreak of diseases such as cholera.
TMA forecast came in the wake of the city experiencing rains for long hours.
Dar es Salaam has experienced heavy flooding following the rains that have been pounding the coastal areas ceaselessly since Monday afternoon through Tuesday morning.
The flooding caused heavy traffic snarl-ups on major roads in the city.
Dr Mhita also announced that a delegation from the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the United States’ National Weather Service will visit Tanzania from May 9-16.
NOAA will discuss with their Tanzanian counterparts modalities of improving the weather services.
The delegation, which was scheduled to arrive in the country yesterday, is led by the Deputy Assistant Administrator for Weather Services, Dr John E. Jones Jr.
It will, among other things, hold discussions with Prime Minister’s Office officials, the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, Agriculture, Food Security and Co-operatives.
They will also visit the Ministries of Environment, Planning and Economic Empowerment.
The delegation wants to explore ways of building capacities of African weather agencies in line with World Meteorological Organisation requirements.
While in the country, the delegation will also meet the weather experts from Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Zambia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe on May 13-14.
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