Harare — REGIONAL climate experts predict better rainfall for the second part of Southern Africa's summer season, with most parts of Zimbabwe having already experienced significant showers from last week.

The prediction for January to March is largely consistent with the forecast by the 13th Southern African Regional Climate Outlook Forum last year.

The latest forecast was prepared by climate scientists from Sadc meteorological and hydrological services in conjunction with the Drought Monitoring and International Research centres.

The experts predict normal to above normal rainfall across northern parts of Sadc, Madagascar and Mauritius, with chances of normal to above normal rainfall in other parts of the region.

The area covers the northernmost parts of Angola, western Botswana, DRC, southern Lesotho, Malawi, the northernmost parts of Mozambique, easternmost Namibia, southern portions of South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and the northern half of Zimbabwe.

Below normal to normal rainfall punctuated with longer than normal dry spells is expected in the remaining parts of the sub-region covering eastern Botswana, northern Lesotho, southern Mozambique, northern South Africa, Swaziland and southern Zimbabwe.

"The wetter than normal conditions in some parts of the region and the drier than normal in the other parts are linked to the effects of the El Niño phenomenon.

"The impact of El Nino in the Sadc region has varied significantly in its severity, though it generally has a greater impact in the southern half," the outlook said.

In an interview on Monday, Meteorological Services Department head of forecasting Mr Tich Zinyemba said although the bulk of Zimbabwe was receiving significant rains, these were concentrated in the north and east.

He said the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone that had moved over Zambia and the hot weather experienced in some parts of Zimbabwe were responsible for the thunderstorms.

"The country has been receiving significant falls since mid-last week with heavier falls recorded in Bulawayo, Midlands, Manicaland and Mashonaland provinces.

"This is in addition to Harare that has been receiving rains for sometime now.

"The heaviest rains have been received in Harare, Mashonaland East and Central, and Manicaland provinces over the weekend.

"This is because the cloud system that is bringing moisture into the country is now moving from the southwest to the northeast.

"Harare province has been receiving amounts in excess of 40mm," he said.

Mr Zinyemba said rainfall in Masvingo, southern Midlands and Matabeleland North remained low.

Heavy falls were recorded in Manicaland with Henderson Research receiving (45mm), Chisengu (30mm), Nyanga (30mm), Chinhoyi (26mm) and Mutoko (15mm) on Friday.

On Saturday, Bulawayo received the heaviest falls of 65mm followed by Mazowe with 55mm, Gokwe (43mm), Marondera (39mm), Mutoko (35mm), Karoi (31mm), Chinhoyi (27mm) and Mt Darwin (20mm).

Mr Zinyemba said Zimbabwe was experiencing sporadic thundershowers.

He said the Met Department would continue cloud seeding in suitable areas.

Sporadic thunderstorms, which in most cases have been accompanied by strong winds, have left trails of destruction in some parts of the country.