Cold spell to continue

Chronicle Reporter
June 1, 2010



THE cold spell which hit the country on Sunday is expected to last until Thursday, a meteorological officer said yesterday.
In a telephone interview, a senior meteorological officer based at Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport, Mr Roger Munyira, said winter had begun in earnest.
He said the cold spell, caused by a sub-tropical high-pressure system moving from the south to the north, was expected to last at least up to Thursday.
The cold spell was felt in most parts of the country yesterday with Bulawayo recording a maximum temperature of 16 degrees Celsius and minimum temperature of 12 degrees.
“The temperatures are likely to remain subdued tomorrow (today) where we expect the day to be cold to very cold. Generally the temperatures will remain suppressed in the next few days but the cloud amount will decrease from Wednesday and Thursday.
“We expect the days to be cold at first and mild later,” said Mr Munyira.
He said the country was now under a high-pressure system with subsidised winds.
Most people felt that yesterday was the coldest day since the onset of winter.
In Bulawayo’s central business district, most people wore heavy jackets and jerseys to keep themselves warm while in residential areas, some people made fires to keep themselves warm and others switched on heaters.
According to yesterday’s evening weather report and forecast, the weather is expected to be cloudy today with light rain and drizzle over Manicaland and Masvingo provinces.
“Temperatures will be mostly in the cold category,” said the forecast.
Gweru, according to the forecast, was the coldest major city with a maximum of 12 degrees, followed by Masvingo with 14, and Bulawayo and Kwekwe with maximums of 16 degrees. The maximum temperature in Harare was 17 degrees while Mutare was warmer at 22 degrees.
All major cities had minimum temperatures ranging between 12 degrees and 14 degrees.
Gweru is expected to be the coldest again today with a maximum temperature of 15 degrees, followed by Masvingo (16), Bulawayo (17), Harare, Kadoma and Kwekwe all 18, and Mutare (22) will be the warmest once again.

well, I am cold every morning I am in zim; so much so that I almost hope we don't spot anything until my cheek thaws out.