The Meteorological Services Department (MSD) has advised that the country is undergoing a seasonal transition period, marked by shifting weather patterns as it moves from summer to winter.
In an interview with Climate Newsroom, Met Department head of forecasting Mr James Ngoma said this phase, characterized by cold nights, warmer daytime temperatures, and sporadic rainfall, has seen moisture drifting westward across regions, triggering localized rain spells, with significant rainfall recorded in most parts of the country.
He noted these conditions are typical of the transitional season, but emphasized that such weather events will diminish in frequency as the period advances, with stabilization into drier, cooler winter norms is expected in the coming weeks.
“So, we have experienced some moisture drifting into the country. This period we are in is called the transition period. During the transition period, you can experience both cold nights and warmer afternoons, as it is a transition between summer and winter. Based on this, there are a few rain spells across the country due to moisture passing from the west to the east. As the period progresses, we expect these occurrences to become less frequent.”
“For this current spell, we had significant rainfall in areas such as Chakari in Mashonaland West Province, the southern parts of Mashonaland West, the southern parts of Mashonaland East, and northern parts of Midlands extending into southern Manicaland. This created an entire belt with significant rainfall. We had light showers in areas such as Harare Metropolitan, parts of Gweru, parts of Masvingo, and some areas in Mashonaland Central and Mashonaland East.”
The weather forecast indicates scattered showers may persist in some areas, but rainfall is expected to decrease as the Easter weekend progresses. While Saturday will remain cloudy and chilly, temperatures are predicted to rise on Sunday, creating perfect conditions for outdoor activities.
“We still have some rain showers in certain places, and we will continue to monitor this. As we move from Good Friday into the rest of the Easter weekend, we expect less rainfall. Saturday should remain cloudy and cold, but it will be warmer on Sunday. For those planning a braai, Sunday is a perfect day for outdoor activities. However, Saturday will be a bit chilly and cool,” he said.
Mr Ngoma reassured farmers and residents amid concerns over recent rainfall patterns, stating that the current rain belts affecting the region are “short-lived” and will not persist long enough to threaten agricultural yields.
While another brief period of rain is forecast before the month concludes, he emphasized that drier conditions will swiftly return, with sunshine expected to resume across much of the country by Sunday.
“Those rain belts are short-lived. We still expect another one before the month ends, but we expect it over a slight period. So for those that are concerned about their crops, those rains will not last long, as we have indicated.By Sunday, we expect a return to sunshine across much of the country,” he said.
