ReliefWeb

Heavy rainfall forecast for flood-affected areas of southern Africa

1. Consistently heavy rains over the past few weeks have caused flooding, overflowing of rivers, infrastructure damage, and have displaced people in many local areas of central and eastern Zambia, including the Luano Valley, Kitwe, and Chipata regions. Heavy downpours are forecast to continue during the next outlook period, which could exacerbate ground conditions.

2. Heavy downpours during the past week have substantially elevated the level of the Licungo River and flooded lower areas downstream. This increases the risks for flooding over the Namacura and Maganja da Costa districts in the Zambezia province of Mozambique. The moderate to heavy rains forecast during the next outlook period could trigger new flooding and worsen ground conditions.

3. Abundant rains over the past several weeks have led to elevated river levels along the Púnguè, Búzi and Save Rivers in central Mozambique. Localized flooding has inundated crop fields, damaged infrastructure, displaced local populations and isolated towns. River levels are expected to remain near or above alert level during the next week.

4. Torrential rain during the past several weeks in Zimbabwe has caused river and flash flooding across the country, which has caused fatalities, displaced local populations and damaged infrastructure. Flooding around the Tokwe-Mukorsi dam in southern Zimbabwe has led to a state of disaster declaration. With grounds saturated, the risk for localized flooding across Zimbabwe is elevated for the next week.

5. Heavy rainfall during the past two weeks has flooded roads and villages in the North West province of South Africa. The floods have isolated local population and caused multiple fatalities. Any additional rainfall during the next week could cause more flooding.