Heavy rains to end in June
May 21, 2010
WEATHER experts have predicted that the rains will subside in most of Uganda in a few weeks. Some parts of the country will say bye-bye to the abnormally heavy rains by the first week of June while for others it will continue till mid month.
By Ben Okiror
and Charles Ariko
WEATHER experts have predicted that the rains will subside in most of Uganda in a few weeks. Some parts of the country will say bye-bye to the abnormally heavy rains by the first week of June while for others it will continue till mid month.
The weathermen, however, warned that for the remaining days of this month the rains are likely to continue countrywide. Some districts, they warn, are likely to suffer more landslides as a result.
“The forecast indicates that much of the country is likely to receive above normal rainfall during the month of May, and the cessation of seasonal rainfall for most places is expected during early or mid-June,†said Deus Bamanya, the assistant commissioner for meteorology in-charge of data processing and analysis.
He said areas most prone to landslides are in the districts of Bushenyi, Kabale, Mt Elgon area and districts surrounding the Rwenzori Mountains. In Bushenyi, the sub-counties of Bunyaruguru and Kitagata face the highest risk.
There is also a possibility of food shortage after crops were destroyed by water logging, floods and landslides. “Authorities in urban areas should pay much attention to sanitation as waterborne diseases like cholera and typhoid are likely to break out due to water pollution,†Bamanya added.
He warned that he added that even after the rains have reduced, soils will remain soaked with water, making them soggy.
Bamanya said the heaviest rains are currently being experienced in south-western and western Uganda and are expected to continue up to late May. The Central region, Lake Victoria Basin and the eastern region are receiving between normal to above normal rains, he said.
“Rains in these regions are normally punctuated by short-lived dry spells but resume immediately thereafter,†Bamanya said.
He explained that the northern region which is currently receiving out breaks of showers and thunderstorms punctuated by dry spells in some places is expected to start receiving rains around early June, marking the start of the rainy season for this region.
and Charles Ariko
WEATHER experts have predicted that the rains will subside in most of Uganda in a few weeks. Some parts of the country will say bye-bye to the abnormally heavy rains by the first week of June while for others it will continue till mid month.
The weathermen, however, warned that for the remaining days of this month the rains are likely to continue countrywide. Some districts, they warn, are likely to suffer more landslides as a result.
“The forecast indicates that much of the country is likely to receive above normal rainfall during the month of May, and the cessation of seasonal rainfall for most places is expected during early or mid-June,†said Deus Bamanya, the assistant commissioner for meteorology in-charge of data processing and analysis.
He said areas most prone to landslides are in the districts of Bushenyi, Kabale, Mt Elgon area and districts surrounding the Rwenzori Mountains. In Bushenyi, the sub-counties of Bunyaruguru and Kitagata face the highest risk.
There is also a possibility of food shortage after crops were destroyed by water logging, floods and landslides. “Authorities in urban areas should pay much attention to sanitation as waterborne diseases like cholera and typhoid are likely to break out due to water pollution,†Bamanya added.
He warned that he added that even after the rains have reduced, soils will remain soaked with water, making them soggy.
Bamanya said the heaviest rains are currently being experienced in south-western and western Uganda and are expected to continue up to late May. The Central region, Lake Victoria Basin and the eastern region are receiving between normal to above normal rains, he said.
“Rains in these regions are normally punctuated by short-lived dry spells but resume immediately thereafter,†Bamanya said.
He explained that the northern region which is currently receiving out breaks of showers and thunderstorms punctuated by dry spells in some places is expected to start receiving rains around early June, marking the start of the rainy season for this region.