The provinces of Maputo, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Sofala and some districts of the provinces of Tete and Zambézia may register normal rains with a tendency to above normal, according to data released this Thursday by the National Institute of Meteorology (INAM).

According to the source, in the provinces of Nampula, Cabo Delgado and Nampula the forecasts indicate normal rainfall, with a tendency to below normal in the rainy season from August 2022 to March 2023.

INAM also reported the Climate Forecast for maximum temperatures, which states that the provinces of Maputo, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Sofala, Tete, Zambézia, Niassa and Nampula may register normal temperatures with a tendency to below normal, while Cabo Delgado, Nampula and Niassa may register normal temperatures with a tendency to above normal.

Thus, more than one million five hundred thousand people could be affected by floods in this rainy season in some regions of the country. The number of victims is the same as in previous years.

The Licungo, Búzi and Púnguè, Incomáti, Umbeluzi and Maputo basins accumulate the greatest volume of water, which, in the event of heavy rains, could affect a considerable number of the population during the rainy season that extends from October to March.

In this rainy season, the situation will not be different from previous years: urban flooding is expected in the municipalities of Maputo, Matola, Beira and Quelimane.

To minimize the impact, the Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Water Resources says it will decrease the amount of water stored in some dams.

The National Institute for Disaster Risk Management does not yet know how much money will be needed to cope with the rainy season. However, it guarantees that a contingency plan is being prepared.