Heavy rains to pound Kagera, Mara

Tanzania Meteorological Agency (TMA) has warned of heavy rains in the first week of March in Kagera and Mara Regions while gradually spreading to other regions including Geita, Mwanza, Shinyanga and Simiyu.

The warning follows the much anticipated precipitation expected to pound the vast part of the country between March and May. 

TMA Director General Dr Agnes Kijazi urged the general public on Thursday to take precautions ahead of the rains that may lead to another wave of water related diseases. 

“The public need to take appropriate health precautions to mitigate expected impact of heavy rains,” she said.
 
However, there will be moderate rains in few areas with ongoing seasonal rains in other regions expected to be below the average norm, she explained.

She said north and south-eastern Tanga Region and the islands of Pemba and Unguja should expect heavier downpour compared to the south-western Tanga, Dar es Salaam, Coast and Morogoro regions that are expected to experience moderate rainfall pattern. 

Other regions including Kilimanjaro, Arusha and Manyara, will experience moderate and above normal pattern in the third week of March. 

“Tabora, Rukwa, Katavi and Kigoma regions will experience moderate and below normal rainfalls in most areas, expected to stop in the fourth week of April,” Dr Kijazi said.

In the central regions of Singida and Dodoma, average and below average rainfalls are expected to end by the first week of April.

Regions of Ruvuma, Mtwara and Lindi will experience normal to below normal rains during the remaining season and expected to end in the second week of April.

The south-western regions of Mbeya, Songwe, Iringa, and Njombe as well as southern Morogoro will receive normal to below normal rains which are expected to end in the first week of May.