Cold spell to persist, says Met Department

Bulawayo Bureau
August 12, 2010

THE southern parts of the country should brace for another cold and windy weather until midday today, a meteorological officer said yesterday.

Most parts along the main watershed woke up to freezing cold weather on Tuesday and yesterday, with temperatures dropping to below 20 degrees Celsius for urban centres like Bulawayo, Gweru and Masvingo.

Bulawayo recorded a maximum of 14 degrees Celsius yesterday.

The senior meteorological officer based at Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Airport, Mr Rodgers Munyira, said that the suppressed temperatures, which were experienced for the past three days, were a result of freshening winds emanating from South Africa.

Mr Munyira said the freshening winds, with an average speed of 25 knots, had crossed the border from South Africa.

He said the cold weather was expected to continue today.

"The past two days (Tuesday and Wednesday) saw a massive pressure surge into areas along and south of the main watershed. This resulted in an increase in cloud cover resulting in drizzle in areas like Kezi, West Nicholson and Masvingo on Tuesday in the afternoon," said Mr Munyira.

"This will continue until tomorrow (today) and clear by midday. Behind it there is a very dry air in South Africa which is surging into the country and we expect the weather to be fine by Friday as it will get warmer than of late."

He said the freshening winds were expected to increase speed to about 40 knots although temperatures would depress by midday today.

Mr Munyira said other areas affected by the cold spell included Chiredzi, Chivhu, Mutare and Gweru where it was overcast for the past two days.

Sounds like perfect weather to me!

It's starting to warm up.I prefer it hot while on vacation.