Sixth warmest June in more than a decade
As Namibia transitions from winter to summer, forecasts indicate a high chance of above-average temperatures from August to October across the northeast and coastal areas, as well as the central north.This means temperatures will gradually become warmer than normal in these regions.
According to the Namibian Meteorological Services' latest climate report, the average temperature for June was 0.4 °C higher than the average between 1991 and 2020, making it the sixth warmest June on record in the last 14 years.
Most parts of the country recorded temperatures higher than 14 °C, with the hottest temperature recorded in the northwestern areas of the country.
Cooler temperatures occurred across the central parts of the interior, according to the report. Temperatures across central, northwestern and parts of Otjozondjupa, Oshikoto, Ohangwena and Zambezi were between -2 °C and 0.5 °C cooler than normal.
The main difference was in the southwest and Omaheke where temperatures were 1.5°C to 2.5°C warmer than average.
According to America's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a scientific and regulatory agency that predicts the weather and also monitors oceanic and atmospheric conditions, temperatures for June were above average for most parts of the world. Africa, Asia and South America recorded their hottest June on record.
According to the report, a narrow strip from the northwest to the southeast in Namibia will record cooler temperatures than normal from August to October.
"Average temperature forecasts for August to October are expected to vary between 15 °C and 25 °C for most of the country, except for Zambezi where the average temperature is expected to rise above 27 °C," said the report.
Meanwhile, NamWater's dam bulletin shows the average level of the country's dams stood at 53.4% last week compared to last year's 65.9%. The average level of the dams that supply Windhoek with water currently stands at 15.6%, while the level of dams in the south stands at 60.4% and those in the east of the country at an average level of 2.9%. - [email protected]