Climate Scientists Warn of Drier-than -Normal Rain Season

By Arnold Tutu Climate scientists have warned that much of Southern Africa, including Southern Zambia, faces a high likelihood of drier-than-normal conditions in the coming rainy season. This is according to the Thirty-Third Southern Africa Regional Climate Outlook ForumSARCOF-33, held in Swakopmund, Namibia, from the 25th to the 28th of August 2026. In its statement, the Forum said for the period October 2026 to March 2027, much of Angola, Southern Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana and most of South Africa have increased chances of below-normal rainfall. However, northern Zambia, along with most of the Democratic Republic of Congo, northwestern Angola, central Malawi, northern Mozambique and southern Tanzania, has increased chances of normal to above-normal rainfall. The Forum also projects above-normal temperatures across most of the region from October to January, except over some central areas which may be cooler. Scientists attribute the outlook to a strengthening El Niño in the tropical Pacific, expected to peak around October to December 2026, and a developing positive Indian Ocean Dipole. SARCOF-33 cautions that the outlook is for broad seasonal trends and not for specific towns or months. The public has been urged to seek detailed guidance from the Zambia Meteorological Department.