The Meteorological Services Department (MSD) has forecast thundery weather for the northern regions of the country from Sunday, October 13, until Wednesday, October 16, 2024.
In a weather advisory issued on October 11, the MSD warned that the southern parts of the country—specifically Masvingo, Manicaland, Matabeleland South, and the southern areas of the Midlands provinces—should expect cloudy, cold, and drizzly conditions starting Tuesday evening and continuing until Thursday morning. Said the MSD:
Moisture is expected to drift into the northern parts of the country namely Matabeleland North, Mashonaland West and Mashonaland Central provinces early on Sunday morning, 13 October 2024.
This should quickly spread into the northern Midlands, Harare Metropolitan and all Mashonaland provinces and intensify slightly, on Tuesday 15 October 2024, resulting in isolated light showers coupled with lightning and thunder and windy.
Anticipate a significant strengthening of relatively cool winds, from the south-east coast of Southern Africa, on Tuesday evening.
This should steer a cool and moist southeasterly airflow into Zimbabwe resulting in cloudy, windy and cool weather over Matabeleland South, Masvingo and Manicaland provinces as well as southern part of the Midlands on Wednesday 16 October 2024. Light rain and drizzle is probable in (some) places.
Meanwhile, Civil Protection Unit director Nathan Nkomo said that a disaster contingency plan for the 2024/25 rainy season is already established.
He stated that a two-day planning meeting with over 70 participants from various sectors reviewed the current contingency based on SADC regional weather projections and MSD data. They are now prepared to implement the plan when the rains arrive.