Exceptional Rainfall

Thursday 5 April 2018

Exceptional Rainfall

What looked to be an unusually dry year until late in Mar 2018 suddenly turned into a year of exceptional rainfall. Vast and extended showers during the past two weeks resulted in large-scale flooding of the ephemeral rivers. Six of the major river systems reached the ocean: the Hoaruseb, the Hoanib, the Uniab, the Koigab, the Huab and the Ugab. Such extended rains and floods were last observed in 1995. The floods along the Koigab River that washed away parts of the main road for a section of approximately 10km is particularly unusual.

Rain-pools on the granite flats near Torra Bay

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Flooding of the Koigab River and associated basin.


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At 04h00 on 4 Apr 2018, flood waters rushed into the Huab Lagoon and broke through into the ocean.
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Springbok enjoying the green grass at the Hoanib mouth.