Namibia summer rain countdown 2012

That smell. When the first rain drops hit the dusty, thirsty ground after months of winter and the dry ground soaks up the drops gratefully.

And that view. The rainfall season in Namibia should be high on the bucket list of any photographer, because this country is starkly beautiful when draped in clouds heavy with rain.

Clouds drifting over Sossusvlei. Photo: Paul van Schalkwyk

This past weekend many Namibians were treated to that smell, and although it was just a few drops, it gave the nosebuds a preview of things to come.

Namibian weather forecaster Olga Tjiueza says that the cloudy weather which has been present over the interior of the country for the past few days, will soon be replaced by bright sunshine again.

She did however say that the first part of the rainy season is expected to kick off in time on October, and the October to December rainfall season will in all likelihood bring normal to above average rainfall.

On the current weather front, Olga says that today only the south-eastern parts of the country can expect some rainfall. (17 September 2012).

Two cold fronts are expected to slam into Namibia’s south over the week, the first tomorrow, 18 September, and the second cold front on Thursday. Both fronts are rolling in from the south-western Cape, and the biggest temperature drops will be seen in Namibia’s far south.

Light rain will accompany the cold front in the Karas region, Olga says.

Rain in the desert of Namibia. Photo: Paul van Schalkwyk

As for the overall rainy season outlook, Isabella Kapollo from the Windhoek Meteorological Services said that at this year’s SARCOF climate outlook forum, which was held in August, and attended by weather fundi’s from the SADC region, it was agreed that the outlook for the October to December, and January to March rainy season in Namibia is good overall.

Namibia was cast into Zone 4, which means Namibians and travellers can look forward to “increased chances of normal to above normal rainfall”.

Good news for everyone. Especially our olfactory senses.