22 February 2011

Namibia: Lodges, campsites, roads etc. closed due to rain/floods - daily updates! Pt. 4


updates (08 Mar 2011): The Tsondab River is no longer flowing and the C19 between Solitaire & Sesriem is open again.

updates (03 Mar 2011): Walvis Bay - NamWater has made significant progress in restoring the water supply inflow to 600m³/h. This positive development has enabled the Municipality to extend the water supply period up to 21:30 this evening. For the next few days the normal water supply will be opened from 06:00 to 21:30.
It has been reported that water from Angola has reached the Northern regions of Namibia, causing floods of the same magnitude as the past several years.

updates (02 Mar 2011): Hakusembe River Lodge - the lodge is operating as normal; Impalila Island Lodge - the lodge is operating as normal; Lianshulu Lodge - the lodge is operating as normal; Namushasha Country Lodge - the lodge is operating as normal. Follow the clearly marked detour signs; Ndhovu Safari Lodge - the lodge is operating as normal, but is offering free seasonal boat transfers from the parking area to the lodge. The campsite is closed; Ntwala Island Lodge - the lodge is operating as normal
Susuwe Island Lodge - the lodge is operating as normal 

updates (01 Mar 2011): Storm-water drainage in Oshakati was unable to cope with heavy rain on Sunday afternoon, causing small local floods in a number of informal settlements.
The Angolan Department of Water Affairs at Ondjiva reported that much rain had been received in southern Angola.
A new flood wave in Kavango River has swamped Nkurenkuru west of Rundu. Water levels at Rundu are steadily rising and are expected to rise up rapidly in the coming days.
Nasa Satellite images showed heavy rains for the central Oshana, eastern Ohangwena, Central Caprivi and very heavy rains for the eastern Kavango Regions on Sunday.
The flow in the main Kuiseb River was down to 0.74 meters at Schlesien at Kuiseb Pass Bridge yesterday. 

updates (28 Feb 2011): Walvis Bay - Water wil be re-opened between 18h00 and 21h30 this evening and from 06:00 to 11:30 tomorrow morning. During the water closure periods, businesses and residents can still obtain water from the water points along 5th road, at the Municipal Building and Mautamenene Fire Station in Kuisebmond and along Sam Nujoma Avenue near Kruis Street in Narraville.
The water problem could be worse tomorrow because of another flood.

updates (24 Feb 2011): Water levels at Katima Mulilo have increased to 6.14m as at 22 Feb 2011. This is the level (6m-7m) at which the higher ground to which communities moved earlier in the rainfall season starts becoming inundated.
The Cuvelai Basin, in particular the Oshakati area, should be on alert for possible flooding from the north in the coming week. 

updates (22 Feb 2011): A new flood wave of more than 3.0 m arrived at the Kuiseb Pass Bridge on 16 February 2011. The Namibia Hydrological Services have teams in the area to monitor the situation and provide early warning to communities downstream.
As at 15 February 2011, the Zambezi River at Katima Mulilo stood at 5.4 m and is rising as expected, having increased by 82 cm since 08 February 2011. The forecast is still that water levels will stabilize around 6 m in the next 7-10 days. Inundation of the Caprivi region usually starts when the Zambezi River reaches about 3.5 m to 4 m at Katima Mulilo. Such levels (3.5 m - 4 m) are an annual occurrence and communities living in these areas are used to this pattern and move to higher ground that is often isolated. Flooding of the higher ground can only occur when the levels exceed 6 m to 7 m, which could potentially lead to a humanitarian situation. [src.]


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According to the Meteorological Services Division in the Ministry of Works and Transport there is a slightly more enhanced likelihood for above normal-to-normal rainfall in the regions of Caprivi, Kavango, Oshikoto, Ohangwena, Oshana, Otjozondjupa, Omaheke, Hardap and Khomas. For the Kunene, Erongo and Karas regions, normal to above-normal rainfall is still expected.
Rivers: Flows in westerly direction towards Lake Liambezi are increasing at Ngoma Gate. Flows in the same direction are also passing the Bukalo Bridge in the Bukalo Channel, while water levels in the Kwando River at Kongola have remained stable. The flows in the Kavango River remain high. A flood has been reported at Shanalumono in the main channel of the Cuvelai system, but the flows must still reach Oshakati. There have been no reports or indications of flood development in the main Cuvelai River north of Ondjiva in Angola, but heavy rains that fell on Saturday may start a flood. The Kunene River is flowing high while flows in the Fish River are slowly subsiding. [src.]

Big kudos to Namibian tourism info source tourbrief (and other online resources) for keeping us updated regarding the current rain/flood situation in Namibia! Thx!

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