Zimbabwe Hydrological Update as at 27 January 2014
The country’s dam levels as well as the river levels are increasing due to the increase in rainfall activities across the country. The national dam levels increased by 0.1% since the 20th of January 2014 and now stand at 57.8% full. Chances of flooding in the flood prone areas of Zimbabwe which include Muzarabani, Gokwe, Middle Sabi, Tsholotsho and Chikwalakwala are high.
The Zambezi River flows increased from 867m3/s on 24 January 2014 to the current 883m3/s. The current flows are above the expected flows of 753m3/s at this time of the year.
Lake Kariba is at 59.3% full and the current lake level is well above the 39.8% expected level at this time of the year.
In the Gwayi Catchment which covers greater parts of Matabeleland North Province, the dam levels stand at 88.4% at the moment.
In the Mzingwane Catchment (mainly Matabeleland South Province), the dam levels in the catchment stand at 67.5% full on average. The Limpopo River levels are at 1.7m at the moment and chances of flooding in the neighbouring areas are relatively low.
In the Save Catchment (mainly Manicaland Province), flows in the Save River at the Condo Dam site (E21) are currently averaging 19.6m3/s. Flows in Devure River at E118 which feeds into Save River are averaging 7.1m3/s at the moment. The dams in the catchment stand at 80.6% full.
In the Manyame Catchment (mostly Mashonaland West Province), as of today (27/01/2014) the flows in Musengezi River at C68 (Centenary) are averaging 1.26m3/s. The current flows are below the average flows expected of 2.0m3/s at this time of the year. Downstream at Chidodo in the Mbire District the Musengezi River levels increased significantly to 3.1m from 0.8m on the 24th of January 2014. The current levels are however below the threshold of flooding (7.2m) in the area. Chances of flooding in Chidodo are very high if the rainfall activities persist. The dam levels in the catchment stand at 87.4% full on average. In the Mazowe Catchment which covers mainly the Mashonaland Central Province, the Mazowe River flows are still averaging 96.8m3/s and the dam levels in the catchment stand at 68.3% full on average.
In the Runde Catchment (mainly Masvingo Province) the dam levels are at 23.9% full on average. Mutirikwi Dam, the largest inland dam stands at 8.5% full. Insignificant flows are currently being recorded at the Tokwe/Runde confluence at the moment.
In the Sanyati Catchment (mainly Midlands Province) the dam levels stand at 68.6% full on average while the flows in the Sanyati River remain significant.