<p>Several farmers in Beitbridge are counting their losses after their irrigated crops were ravaged by frostbite – a phenomenon reportedly unprecedented in the district in recent memory.</p>
<p>Beitbridge district Agritex officer Masauso Mawocha confirmed to the <a href="https://newsday.co.zw/southerneye/local/article/200029690/frostbite-hits-beitbridge-destroys-crops"><strong>Southern Eye</strong></a> that the frost has severely impacted crops across the district, citing the example of the sugar bean crop at the Shashi Community Irrigation Scheme being particularly affected. Said Mawocha:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>We have several reports like that from across the district’s irrigated cropping.</p>
<p>Crops have been hit by frostbite and some reports have come from wards 5 and 12. It is an unusually cold winter.</p>
<p>This winter has been particularly bad for crops. Another farmer lost a whole winter maize crop in central Beitbridge.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Elizabeth Ndou of Beitbridge East said her irrigated fodder was hit by frostbite. She said:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>We woke up to see ice on the grass and trees. It was extremely cold in the morning and we had never experienced such a cold winter before.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Beitbridge businessman and cattle farmer Terry Charles Mulowa said:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>There is no other way, but to restart. I had a variety of fodder plants and none was spared by the cold.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Veterinary Department head Rutendo Mwaramba referred questions to her superiors in Harare when contacted for comment.</p>
<p>Tariro Moyo, who lives near the Limpopo River, said she had never seen anything like that in her lifetime.</p>
<p>Southern Eye reported a source at the Beitbridge Meteorological Station as saying they had never recorded such low temperatures in years. Said the source:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Last week on Tuesday and Wednesday, we had ground temperatures at -3C, while the atmospheric temperature was at -0,8 all in the negative.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Zimbabwe endured its most severe drought in four decades during the 2023/24 summer season, which was then followed by an unusually harsh winter, particularly in the late June and early July period of 2024.</p>
<p>In Zimbabwe, there is a longstanding belief that summer seasons with below-average rainfall are often followed by extremely cold winters.</p>
<p>However, Met Office records from the United Kingdom over the past 50 years suggest that prolonged, hot summers are just as likely to be followed by a mild winter as they are by a bitterly cold one. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2003/oct/23/thisweekssciencequestions1">Derek Hardy at the Met Office said</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>As far as we can tell, it’s completely random. You really wouldn’t want to put money on it.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><strong>More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a></strong></p>


Pindula News

In Beitbridge, frost destroyed crops that were being watered. Farmers lost a lot of food. The frost was very bad this year, worse than before. It was so cold that even ice formed on the grass and trees. This was unusual for that area. It was a bad winter for crops. The weather has been strange, with cold ground temperatures. Zimbabwe had a very dry summer before this cold winter. Sometimes dry summers make winters extra cold. However, weather experts say it's hard to predict if a hot summer means a cold winter.

Frost Destroys Irrigated Crops In Beitbridge

<p>The Meteorological Services Department (MSD), in collaboration with the Department of Civil Protection, has issued the Zimbabwe Evening Weather Report and Forecast for the period from Saturday, August 12, 2023, until Monday, August 14, 2023, as outlined below.</p>
<h3>Preamble:</h3>
<p>Yesterday, there were reports of light rainfall in Matabeleland North province and Nyanga. However, today there has been a notable decrease in moisture across the country as the weather system responsible for the previous rainfall has moved westwards into the Indian Ocean. Consequently, the prevailing conditions are characterized by partly cloudy skies in the northern and central provinces, while the remaining areas experience mostly sunny conditions.</p>
<h3>Forecast for Sunday, August 13, 2023:</h3>
<p>Mashonaland East, Harare metropolitan, and the northern parts of Manicaland provinces are expected to have brief cloudy conditions. The rest of the country will experience mostly sunny weather. Due to the anticipated clearing of the skies, slight ground frost is expected in areas such as Matopos, West Nicholson, Kezi, Masvingo, Gweru, Chivhu, Harare, and Henderson. Farmers with winter crops and the general public in these areas are advised to exercise caution.</p>
<h3>Impacts:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Cold conditions may adversely affect the health of vulnerable individuals and contribute to respiratory-related illnesses such as colds, flu, hay fever, and asthma.</li>
<li>Cold morning conditions may pose risks to certain animals, particularly day-old chicks and animal litter.</li>
<li>Ground frost can potentially damage crops from within (intra-cellular frost).</li>
<li>Dry conditions increase the risk of uncontrolled veld fires, with dry vegetation acting as fuel.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Recommended Actions:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Ensure appropriate warmth and clothing for vulnerable individuals, including the young, elderly, and those with underlying health conditions.</li>
<li>If using a brazier or fire for warmth, ensure adequate ventilation in the room.</li>
<li>Employ frost mitigation measures in frost-prone areas.</li>
<li>Given the high fire-danger season, it is advisable for farmers and the general public to construct fire-guards at least 9 meters wide to protect their property.</li>
<li>Exercise caution when starting controlled fires, as starting uncontrolled outdoor fires is an offense and can endanger lives and property.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Weather Outlook for Monday, August 14, 2023:</h3>
<p>Expect a cold and cloudless morning with slight to moderate ground frost in areas such as Matopos, West Nicholson, Kezi, Masvingo, Gweru, Chivhu, Harare, and Henderson. The temperature should gradually warm up by the afternoon, becoming cold again during the night.</p>
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Ground Frost Expected In Some Parts Of Zimbabwe: MSD

<p>The Meteorological Services Department of Zimbabwe, in conjunction with the <a class="MarkdownLink_linkifiedLink__KxC9G">Civil Protection Department</a>, has forecasted severe ground frost in some parts of the country in its e<a class="MarkdownLink_linkifiedLink__KxC9G">vening Weather Report</a> and Forecast on Monday, 17 July 2023, valid until Wednesday, 19 July 2023.</p>
<p>The report indicates that clear skies prevailed early in the morning across the country, and several places had morning ground frost, including Matopos, Henderson, Nyanga, Gweru, Mvurwi, Marondera Belvedere, <a class="MarkdownLink_linkifiedLink__KxC9G">Mount Darwin</a>, Rusape, Masvingo, Chipinge, Zaka, <a class="MarkdownLink_linkifiedLink__KxC9G">West Nicholson</a>, Kezi, Lupane, Wedza, Bulawayo, and Plumtree. It became warm in the afternoon.</p>
<p><strong>The forecast for Tuesday, 18 July 2023</strong>, indicates that cold morning conditions are expected across the country under clear skies. <a class="MarkdownLink_linkifiedLink__KxC9G">Severe ground frost</a> is anticipated in Gweru, Matopos, Henderson, Mvurwi, and Marondera, with <a class="MarkdownLink_linkifiedLink__KxC9G">moderate ground frost</a> in Mount Darwin, Rusape, Masvingo, Chipinge, Zaka, West Nicholson, Kezi, Lupane, Wedza, Bulawayo, and Plumtree. It should be warm by midday.</p>
<p>The report suggests that fluctuations between day and night conditions may affect vulnerable members of society and trigger respiratory-related illnesses in all persons. Ground frost may also affect crops, especially during nights with clear skies in frost-prone areas. Sunny afternoon conditions may affect the body’s perception of the cold towards evening. The dry-vegetative conditions coupled with the <a class="MarkdownLink_linkifiedLink__KxC9G">wind factor</a> tend to make <a class="MarkdownLink_linkifiedLink__KxC9G">veldt fires</a> more rampant during this period.</p>
<p><strong>To mitigate against these impacts,</strong> vulnerable members of society should be dressed appropriately, especially in the early hours of the morning and warmer afternoons. People should wear a sunhat or carry an umbrella if they need to be outdoors during the day. Farmers should monitor temperature within <a class="MarkdownLink_linkifiedLink__KxC9G">fowl runs</a> and adjust accordingly to reduce the impacts of cold conditions on the bird population. Additionally, fire guards should be constructed that are at least 9 meters wide and kept free from any vegetative or combustible material. It is also illegal to start veldt fires for any purpose, even for land clearing.</p>
<p><strong>The weather outlook for Wednesday, 19 July 2023,</strong> indicates that <a class="MarkdownLink_linkifiedLink__KxC9G">cloudless skies</a> are expected to bring about cold morning and warm afternoon conditions throughout the country. Some areas are expected to experience <a class="MarkdownLink_linkifiedLink__KxC9G">morning ground frost</a>, including Gweru, Matopos, Henderson, Mvurwi, and Marondera, which should be severe, as well as Mount Darwin, Rusape, Masvingo, Chipinge, Zaka, West Nicholson, Kezi, Lupane, Wedza, Bulawayo, and Plumtree, where moderate ground frost is anticipated.</p>
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