TMA five day forecast cautious for 15 regions

A TMA statement yesterday warned residents to take precautions in Dodoma, Singida, Mbeya, Songwe, Njombe, Iringa regions and southern parts of Morogoro Region as these areas are likely to experience heavy rainfall, citing other areas as, Geita, Katavi, Kigoma, Tabora, Mwanza, Rukwa, and Shinyanga.

The drenching conditions were slated to commence yesterday and persist for three days, with the five-day forecast emphatic about the need to take the necessary precautions, promising weather updates to keep the public informed.

“We encourage everyone to stay vigilant and follow any advisories issued by local authorities,” it said, raising public worries over likelihood of heavy rainfall, leading to flash floods, landslides as well as road damage in those areas.

One aspect of caution in the TMA statement was the need to secure loose objects around households and properties, as well as avoiding to cross flooded rivers or streams.

In August, TMA announced that most parts of the country were set to receive above normal rains during the end of year season, similarly influenced by oceanic El Nino conditions.

Relatively normal rains were anticipated over Mara, northern parts of Simiyu Region, along with most of Arusha, Manyara and Kilimanjaro regions.

Three weeks ago, more than 80 people died and thousands were displaced as a massive mudslide swept through Katesh Township in Hanang District, Manyara Region following overnight heavy rains.

The torrential rain caused a slice of Mount Hanang to collapse, with the raging mud covering homes and anything that stood in its way, an incident that prompted President Samia Suluhu Hassan to cut short a visit to the COP28 conference to visit the befallen community.