By Arnold Tutu
The Zambia Meteorological Department says/the country should prepare for a sharp transition from cold winter conditions to hotter and drier weather over the next three months.
According to the latest temperature outlook covering July to September, July will be the coldest month of the season and carries the highest risk of cold-related illnesses and localised frost.
The department says some of the coldest nights are expected in districts such as Ndola, Mkushi, Serenje, Mbala, Senga Hill, Pemba, Choma, Namwala, Mazabuka and Sesheke.
Night-time temperatures this month are expected to range between six and eighteen degrees Celsius, while daytime temperatures could rise to as high as 32 degrees in some parts of the country.
Health authorities have been advised to prepare for an increase in respiratory illnesses linked to cold weather, while farmers are being encouraged to protect crops from frost damage and provide shelter for livestock.
The Meteorological Department has also reminded members of the public never to sleep in rooms with a charcoal brazier, locally known as mbaula, because of the risk of suffocation from carbon monoxide fumes.
Conditions are expected to change quickly from August, with temperatures rising and the country becoming increasingly dry.
Daytime temperatures next month are forecast to reach between 24 and 34 degrees Celsius, increasing the risk of veld fires, water loss and heat stress.
By September, temperatures are expected to climb even further, with some areas recording as much as 37 degrees Celsius.
The hottest conditions are expected in parts of north-eastern, southern and western Zambia.
The MET Department is urging communities to conserve water, avoid open burning and take precautions against heat-related illnesses as the country moves towards the summer season.
The Zambia Meteorological Department says the forecast should be used for planning purposes and has encouraged the public to continue following daily weather updates and advisories.
