Namibia Meteorological Service

HIGHLIGHTS

· Rosh-Pinah reported some rainfall in August

· Above normal temperatures were recorded at most places

· Below normal rainfall received in 2003

· Excess rainfall was received at some places in 2004

· Normal rainfall expected for 2005/2006 season with a relatively better prospect for higher falls in the period January-March 2006

WEATHER SUMMARY FOR AUGUST 2005

1^st week:

A cold front brushed the Cape area and cooler moist air reached the southern and central parts of Namibia. A low pressure was dominant at the surface. The next arrival of the cold front was only expected towards the end of the week. A trough in the mid-levels has moved into the western parts of the sub-region at the end of the 1^st week. No rain was reported in the first week.

2^nd Week:

The broad trough in the mid-levels and the cold front at the surface caused favourable conditions for showers and rain in the south. Rosh-Pinah reported 12 mm. The central and southern coastal areas also reported showers. Temperatures dropped sharply over the southern and central areas. A minimum of -3.0^oC was recorded at Hosea Kutako International Airport. Maximum temperatures on the 10^th were below 16^oC over the central and southern areas. A high pressure system became dominant towards the end of the week causing Berg-wind conditions in the west and central coast. Walvisbay reported 31.5^oC on the 11^th August 2005.

3^rd week:

A cold front moved over the Cape area. Significant cooling has occurred in the southern and central areas. Below freezing level temperatures were recorded over the central part. A high pressure in the west ridged overland later in the week.

4^th week:

A high was dominant at the surface and in the mid-levels. Temperatures increased over the southern and central areas.

Temperature Summary for August 2005

The month of August 2005 experienced above normal temperatures in most parts of the country, except at Hardap and Keetmanhoop where the month’s average temperature was below normal. The highest maximum temperature of 36.6°C was recorded at Ondagwa on the 25^th. The lowest minimum temperature of -4.9°C was recorded at Hosea Kutako International Airport on the 18^th.

The month’s temperature statistics as summarized from the daily records at the monitoring stations are given in the Table below. Departures from Normal are differences between the current month’s mean values and the long-term averages/normals.

Monthly Means and Departures from Normal

Station	August 2005 Averages			Departures from Normal
Number Name	MaxT °C	MinT °C	MeanT °C	MaxT °C	MinT °C	MeanT °C
68006 Ondagwa	33.4	13.5	23.5	*****	*****	*****
68014 Grootfontein	28.6	12.2	20.5	1.7	4.8	3.2
68018 Rundu	32.2	13.4	22.8	2.7	4.7	3.7
68030 Katima Mulilo	32.2	11.6	21.9	*****	*****	*****
68098 Walvis Bay Airport	20.8	7.7	14.3	*****	*****	*****
68102 Sitrusdal	31.2	7.6	19.6	3.1	0.5	1.8
68106 Gobabeb	*****	7.1	*****	*****	-2.5	*****
68110 Windhoek	25.7	10.4	18.1	2.5	1.6	2.0
68112 Hosea Kutako Int. Airport	26.3	4.4	15.4	2.7	-0.5	1.1
68116 Gobabis	28.1	8.1	18.2	3.1	3.5	3.3
68212 Hardap	26.7	7.0	17.1	0.0	-0.5	-0.2
68312 Keetmanshoop	22.5	6.2	14.3	-0.9	-1.0	-0.9

(E&OE due to the real time nature of data collection)

CUMULATIVE DECADAL RAINFALL VERSES CUMULATIVE MEAN FOR

JANUARY-MARCH 2003

The graphs below indicate the cumulative decadal (ten day) rainfall performance for selected places compared with the cumulative decadal rainfall mean. Rainfall is recorded as totals for 24 hours at each point. In Namibia the rainfall traditionally last from October-April and reach maximum strength from January-March. January-April 2003 was a significantly dry period at five places below. From the beginning of January below normal rainfall were recorded. Rundu received above or just above normal rainfall from the third to the sixth decade.

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CUMULATIVE DECADAL RAINFALL VERSES CUMULATIVE MEAN FOR JANUARY-APRIL 2004

The rainfall index was dominated by wet conditions from the third decade and continued to increase until the end April 2004 at Katima Mulilo. Dry conditions were observed during January-February 2004 at Rundu but excess rainfall fell from the seventh decade to the end of April. A greater part of the period was on the dry side at Grootfontein, however above normal rainfall could only be observed from the tenth decade. During the early part of January 2004 abundant rains fell on Windhoek and this area received decadal totals that were more than 100% of the normal rainfall. In contrast, below normal rainfall was observed during the early stage of January until the end of March but the last three decades of April was relatively wet.

CUMULATIVE DECADAL RAINFALL VERSES CUMULATIVE MEAN FOR JANUARY-APRIL 2005

There was indeed a significant decrease in the actual rainfall during January-April 2005 at Katima Mulilo, Rundu and Grootfontein throughout the four month period compared to the year 2004 and it is clear that below normal rainfall was received over a greater part of the period. Windhoek was on the drier side compared to the previous season. Keetmanshoop performed well in terms of the rainfall performance and received above normal rainfall during the four months in 2005.

RAINFALL COMPARISON FOR SELECTED STATIONS FOR 2004 AND 2005

Table 1	JFM= January, February and March 2004
Station Names	Actual (mm) Jan 2004	Mean Jan (1971-2000)	Actual (mm) Feb 2004	Mean Feb (1971-2000)	Actual (mm) Mar 2004	Mean Mar (1971-2000)	Actual (mm) Total JFM 2004	Total Mean (1971-2000) JFM
Katima	259.6	178.9	153.9	148.9	239.8	86.5	653.3	414.3
Rundu	130.6	162.8	88.9	130.9	375.8	80.4	595.3	374.1
Grootfontein	118.6	142.7	68.4	122.7	212.9	98.4	399.9	363.8
Windhoek	263.7	80.5	56.8	94.9	40.5	69.2	361.0	244.6
Keetmans	20.5	29.5	49.2	46.9	5.2	33.6	74.9	110.0

Table 2	JFM= January, February and March 2005
Station Names	Actual (mm) Jan 2005	Mean Jan (1971-2000)	Actual (mm) Feb2005	Mean Feb (1971-2000)	Actual (mm) Mar2005	Mean Mar (1971-2000)	Actual (mm) Total JFM2005	Total Mean (1971-2000) JFM
Katima	208.0	178.9	53.4	148.9	36.9	86.5	298.3	414.3
Rundu	88.1	162.8	57.8	130.9	87.7	80.4	233.6	374.1
Grootfontein	118.9	142.7	69.5	122.7	128.3	98.4	316.7	363.8
Windhoek	67.8	80.5	75.3	94.9	80.3	69.2	423.4	244.6
Keetmans	58.0	29.5	60.9	46.9	24.1	33.6	143.0	110.0

CUMULATIVE DECEDAL AND CUMULATIVE DECADAL MEAN RAINFALL COMPARISON FOR JANUARY-MARCH 2004 FOR SELECTED STATIONS

Station Name	January 2004						February 2004						March 2004
Table 1	D1 Actual	D1 Mean	D2 Actual	D2 Mean	D3 Actual	D3 Mean	D1 Actual	D1 Mean	D2 Actual	D2 Mean	D3 Actual	D3 Mean	D1 Actual	D1 Mean	D2 Actual	D2 Mean	D3 Actual	D3 Mean
Katima	44.4	47.5	34.2	47.1	181.0	69.2	5.7	62.7	59.8	51.6	88.4	34.6	69.3	32.0	53.3	31.7	117.2	22.8
Rundu	47.9	50.3	72.7	46.2	10.0	66.4	9.8	53.4	24.3	39.2	54.8	38.3	263.2	30.6	40.9	25.5	71.7	24.3
Grootfontein	45.8	51.8	72.2	53.1	0.6	63.7	24.4	44.4	38.5	52.6	5.5	25.7	111.5	27.2	4.8	33.8	96.6	37.4
Windhoek	77.4	15.5	185.9	32.4	0.4	32.7	6.5	35.4	14.4	27.5	35.9	32.0	17.1	26.9	6.0	22.3	17.4	20.0
Keetmans	2.0	8.1	13.1	7.6	5.4	13.9	0.0	19.1	26.6	15.0	22.6	12.8	5.2	13.4	0.0	9.1	0.0	11.1

CUMMULATIVE DECADAL AND CUMMULATIVE DECADAL MEAN RAINFALL COMPARISON FOR JANUARY-MARCH 2005 FOR SELECTED STATIONS

Station Name	January 2005						February 2005						March 2005
Table 2	D1 Actual	D1 Mean	D2 Actual	D2 Mean	D3 Actual	D3 Mean	D1 Actual	D1 Mean	D2 Actual	D2 Mean	D3 Actual	D3 Mean	D1 Actual	D1 Mean	D2 Actual	D2 Mean	D3 Actual	D3 Mean
Katima	0.9	47.5	96.2	47.1	110.9	69.2	0	62.7	33.5	51.6	19.9	34.6	2.9	32.0	11.2	31.7	22.8	22.8
Rundu	37.8	50.3	30.9	46.2	19.4	66.4	2.5	53.4	46.9	39.2	8.4	38.3	14.2	30.6	35.6	25.5	37.9	24.3
Grootfontein	18.7	51.8	89.4	53.1	10.8	63.7	7.3	44.4	57.8	52.6	4.4	25.7	8.0	27.2	39.8	33.8	80.5	37.4
Windhoek	25.2	15.5	40.2	32.4	2.4	32.7	21.7	35.4	53.6	27.5	0.0	32.0	0.5	26.9	60.0	22.3	19.8	20.0
Keetmans	0.0	8.1	58.0	7.6	0.0	13.9	26.4	19.1	26.2	15.0	8.3	12.8	0.2	13.4	4.0	9.1	19.9	11.1

ASTRONOMICAL INFORMATION-TIDES AT WALVIS BAY

OCTOBER 2005

Day	Date	High	Low	High	Low
Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday	1 2 3 4 5 6 7	0218 0245 0311 0338 0406 0435 0508	0807 0833 0858 0924 0951 1020 1052	1429 1454 1520 1546 1614 1644 1718	2029 2054 2119 2146 2215 2246 2321
Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday	8 9 10 11 12 13 14	0547 0634 0744 0933 1119 1225 1314	1130 1220 1346 1606 1741 1840 1925	1759 1853 2018 2224 2358 0056	0004 0104 0248 0446 0559 0652
Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday	15 16 17 18 19 20 21	1355 1434 1511 1546 1621 1655 1728	2005 2042 2117 2150 2223 2254 2327	0142 0222 0259 0335 0409 0444 0519	0735 0813 0850 0924 0958 1031 1104
Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday	22 23 24 25 26 27 28	1804 1849 2003 2221 2353 0040	0002 0051 0223 0429 0540 0623	0556 0641 0745 0935 1119 1214 1250	1140 1226 1350 1622 1744 1827 1858
Saturday Sunday Monday	29 30 31	0114 0144 0213	0657 0728 0757	1321 1350 1418	1926 1954 2022

ASTRONOMICAL INFORMATION- SUNRISE AND SUNSET

November 2005							December 2005
Date	Ondangwa		Windhoek		Keetmans		Ondangwa		Windhoek		Keetmans
	Sun Rise	Sun Set	Sun Rise	Sun Set	Sun Rise	Sun Set	Sun Rise	Sun Set	Sun Rise	Sun Set	Sun Rise	Sun Set
1 2 3 4 5	0617 0616 0616 0615 0615	1902 1903 1903 1904 1904	0606 0606 0605 0605 0604	1903 1904 1905 1905 1906	0557 0556 0556 0555 0554	1905 1905 1906 1907 1907	0611 0611 0611 0612 0612	1919 1919 1920 1920 1921	0558 0558 0558 0558 0558	1923 1923 1924 1925 1925	0546 0546 0546 0546 0546	1927 1927 1928 1929 1930
6 7 8 9 10	0614 0614 0614 0613 0613	1905 19051905 1906 1906	0604 0603 0603 0602 0602	1906 1907 1908 1908 1909	0554 0553 0553 0552 0552	1908 1909 1909 1910 1911	0612 0612 0613 0613 0613	1922 1922 1923 1923 1924	0559 0559 0559 0559 0559	1926 1927 1927 1928 1929	0546 0546 0547 0547 0547	1930 1931 1932 1932 1933
11 12 13 14 15	0613 0612 0612 0612 0612	1907 1908 1908 1909 1909	0601 0601 0601 0600 0600	1909 1910 1911 1911 1912	0551 0551 0550 0550 0549	1912 1912 1913 1914 1915	0614 0614 0614 0615 0615	1925 1925 1926 1926 1927	0600 0600 0600 0601 0601	1929 1930 1931 1931 1932	0547 0547 0548 0548 0548	1934 1934 1935 1936 1936
16 17 18 19 20	0612 0611 0611 0611 0611	1910 1910 1911 1911 1912	0600 0559 0559 0559 0559	1913 1913 1914 1915 1915	0549 0548 0548 0548 0547	1915 1916 1917 1918 1918	0615 0616 0616 0617 0617	1927 1928 1929 1929 1930	0601 0602 0602 0603 0603	1932 1933 1933 1934 1935	0549 0549 0550 0550 0550	1937 1937 1938 1939 1939
21 22 23 24 25	0611 0611 0611 0611 0611	1913 1913 1914 1914 1915	0558 0558 0558 0558 0558	1916 1917 1917 1918 1919	0547 0547 0547 0546 0546	1919 1920 1921 1921 1922	0618 0618 0619 0619 0620	1930 1931 1931 1932 1932	0604 0604 0605 0605 0606	1935 1936 1936 1936 1937	0551 0551 0552 0553 0553	1940 1940 1941 1941 1941
26 27 28 29 30	0611 0611 0611 0611 0611	1916 1916 1917 1917 1918	0558 0558 0558 0558 0558	1919 1920 1921 1921 1922	0546 0546 0546 0546 0546	1923 1924 1924 1925 1926	0620 0621 0621 0622 0623	1932 1933 1933 1934 1934	0606 0607 0607 0608 0609	1937 1938 1938 1938 1939	0554 0554 0555 0555 0556	1942 1942 1943 1943 1943
31							0623	1934	0609	1939	0557	1944

Phases of the Moon 2005	(	○	)	●
Last quarter	25/10/2005 03:17
New moon		03/10/2005
First quarter			10/10/2005 21:01
Full moon				17/10/2005 14:14

Tide Table information issued by the Hydrographer S.A.N. Tokai 7966 and obtained from BP Namibia (PTY) Ltd

(Motorcycle centre express shop)

HYDROLOGY SECTION