Ministry of Natural Resources and agencies remember staff killed in the Genocide against the Tutsi

 

Hon. Min. Biruta and the Minister for Youth and ICT light the candle at KWIBUKA22 event

 Rwanda's Ministry of Natural Resources and affiliated institutions have gathered to commemorate the lives of staff who were killed in the Genocide against the Tutsi. The event was led by the Minister of Natural Resources, Vincent Biruta, the Minister of Youth and ICT, Jean Philbert Nsengimana and Minister of State in charge of Mining, Evode Imena. The commemoration also included staff from the Ministry of Youth and ICT, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs and the Office of the Government Spokesperson.

The ceremony began with a prayer and a minute of silence to pay tribute to the more than one million victims of the Genocide and remember them with dignity.

Minister Biruta welcomed everyone who came to honour the lives lost in the Genocide, reiterating that every Rwandan has the responsibility to be part of commemoration events.

“Kwibuka (remembrance) is an opportunity to give dignity and respect to victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi. We express our thoughts to those who lost loved ones in the Genocide against the Tutsi. We are with you as a family,” Minister Biruta said.

The program continued with lighting candles of remembrance for Genocide victims as well as songs from musician Dieudonne Munyanshoza, who sang about the testimonies of survivors and their tragic past.

The Director General of the Rwanda Natural Resources Authority, Dr Emmanuel Nkurunziza, then read the names of staff members who were killed in the Genocide. We honour their memory and they will forever be in our hearts. Their names are:

●      Ignace Gasasira

●      Celestin Gatovu

●      Thomas Kabera

●      Vedaste Kanamugire

●      Marcelin Kayiranga

●      Philippe Kazungu

●      Auxile Muyombayire

●      Edison Ntaganzwa

●      Bertrand Rugumbiraho

●      Jean De La Croix Rutaremara

The guest speaker of the event was genocide scholar Tom Ndahiro. He detailed the origins of the divisions the fractured the unity between Rwandans and spoke about the causes and consequences of the Genocide. He explained to the audience the negligence of foreign countries to take action, even after knowing about the mass murders that killed many Tutsi in the years leading up to 1994 and the events of the Genocide against the Tutsi between April and July 1994.

"Around this date twenty-two years ago, the Americans were training political staff and encouraging journalists not to use the word ‘genocide’ to describe what was happening in Rwanda. This was to develop approaches to deny their responsibility to take action and stop the Genocide against Tutsi,” Tom Ndahiro said.

Mr Ndahiro also outlined ways to fight genocide ideology on social media. He explained that Rwandans have begun to use social media to counter genocide deniers who wish to rewrite the country’s history.

"Now on social media platforms, especially Twitter, we can share what happened every day in 1994. We are also able to spread good news about Rwanda’s development over the last 22 years," he said.

The Director General in charge of Research and Documentation at the National Commission for the Fight Against Genocide, Dr Jean Damascene Gasanabo, spoke about the significance of the event and presented Rwanda’s progress to combat genocide and its ideology. He said, however, that some people still hold onto this dangerous way of thinking and urged everyone to stand against those who still promote genocide ideology.

The Minister of Youth and ICT, Jean Philbert Nsengimana, closed the event by encouraging participants to continue the spirit of attending commemorations because it discourages genocide deniers and ideologists around the world.

"Genocide deniers hate it when we gather for Kwibuka events, but it is our duty to ensure history is not forgotten. Take part in Kwibuka events, in Rwanda and around the world, to learn more about the Genocide against the Tutsi," the Minister said.

The agencies affiliated to the Ministry of Natural Resources that joined the commemoration include:

●      Rwanda Natural Resources Authority

●      Rwanda Environment Management Authority

●      Meteo Rwanda

●      Rwanda's Green Fund

Commemoration Photos:

Click here to view photos of the ministry’s Kwibuka22 commemoration event.

Nyabihu: Abahinzi biyemeje ko batazongera gusohora imbuto batazi icyo Iteganyagihe rihatse

Abanyamuryango ba Koperative 10 z’abahinzi bo mu karere ka Nyabihu mu Ntara y’uburengerazuba biyemeje ko batazongera gusohora imbuto batazi icyo Iteganyagihe rihatse. Ni nyuma y’amahugurwa bahawe n’Ikigo cy’Igihugu cy’Ubumenyi bw’Ikirere kuva taliki ya 20 kugeza kuya 22 Mata 2016.

Muri aya mahugurwa aba bahinzi basobanuriwe ibikorwa by’Ikigo cy’Igihugu cy’Ubumenyi bw’Ikirere birimo Iteganyagihe rya buri munsi, iry’iminsi itatu, iry’iminsi itanu, iry’iminsi icumi, irya buri kwezi ndetse n’Iteganyagihe ry’amezi atatu ryifashishwa hategurwa igihembwe cy’ihinga.

Aba bahinzi beretswe akamaro k’Iteganyagihe n’uburyo baryiyambaza mu buhinzi cyane cyane batoranya imbuto zijyanye n’imvura iteganijwe. Akarere ka Nyabihu nka hamwe mu hakunze kurangwa Imvura nyinshi, aba baturage basobanuriwe uburyo bashobora kujya babona amakuru y’Iteganyagihe rya buri munsi ryerekeranye n’akarere kabo haba mu bitangazamakuru ndetse no ku butumwa bugufi. Bahawe kandi nimero bashobora guhamagara itishyuzwa bakwifashisha ariyo 6080.

Benshi muri aba baturage bavuzeko batari bazi iby’iki kigo yewe n’ibyo gikora bityo bavuga ko bagiye kujya bifashisha iteganyagihe mu buzima bwabo bwa buri munsi.

Musabyimana Jean Baptiste umwe muri aba bahinzi, yasabye ko Meteo Rwanda yagirana imikoranire inoze n’izindi nzego za Leta nka Minisiteri y’Ubutegetsi bw’Igihugu mu kugeza Iteganyagihe kuri rubanda nyamwinshi.

Yagize ati: “Hari aho muvuga ko imvura izagwa ari nyinshi ugasanga iraguye kandi koko yangije imyaka yacu. Nk’ubu ntitwari tuzi ko imvura y’iki gihembwe izaba nyinshi. Turasaba ko mwajya mukorana na Minisiteri y’Ubutegetsi bw’Igihugu aya makuru akazanwa mu nzego z’ibanze”

Mu biganiro nyunguranabitekerezo, abaturage basabye Meteo Rwanda kongera umubare w’ibitangazamakuru bisakaza iteganyagihe cyane cyane hakibandwa kuri Radio z’abaturage kugira ngo bamenye uburyo bakwirinda Ibiza. Mubyo basabye kandi harimo kongera umubare w’abahabwa ubutumwa bugufi bw’iteganuyagihe hakoreshejwe amasosiyete y’Itumanaho.

Nyuma yo kubona ko aya makuru bayakenera cyane, Meteo Rwanda yabizeje ko hagiye gushyirwaho ahantu hazwi bajya bakura ayo makuru mu buryo bworoshye bityo nabo bakabona kuyiyambaza.

Babajije ibibazo by’amatsiko…Ibyo bavuga ngo inkuba yarongoye (Imvura kugwa n’izuba riva), Inkomoko y’urubura, umukororombya…. 

 

Abakozi ba Meteo Rwanda mu ifoto y'urwibutso n'abahuguwe

Kaberuka Edison umwe mu bahinzi yabajije impamvu usanga imvura iri kugwa n’izuba riva bamwe bavuga ko ari inkuba iba yarongoye ndetse abaza niba ibi Meteo Rwanda nabyo ibibona.

Ati: “Nonese biba byagenze bite iyo usanga izuba riva ndetse n’imvura igwa? Hari ababyita ko Inkuba iba yarongoye… ese nabyo muba mubireba?”

Nsabukunze Felicien Umukozi wa Meteo Rwanda mu gashami k’Iteganyagihe yavuze ko izuba kuva n’imvura igwa biterwa n’igicu gikura kikagera ku rwego rwo kubyara imvura ariko noneho nyuma kikayoyoka hakava izuba ariko nanone kigatanga imvura nke.

Yagize ati: “Igicu kirakura, kikageza ku rwego rwo gutanga imvura ariko nyuma kikayoyoka. Ya mvura ubona ijojoba ni nk’aho cya gicu kiba kikubwira kiti ndacyahari, ariko burya kiba cyatakaje imbaraga. Ntabwo ari inkuba iba yarongoye”

Ibijyanye n’umukororombya, Higiro Steven umukozi wo muri Meteo Rwanda yavuze ko biterwa n’uko izuba riba riva ariko n’imvura irimo kugwa. Yavuze ko iyo imirasire y’izuba ihuye na bya bitonyanga by’imvura, ishobora kwinjira muri cya gitonyanga igakomeza cyangwa se hakaba ubwo isubiye inyuma ntibashe kwinjira. Iyo isubiye inyuma nibwo ubibona ahita abona amabara y’umukororombya.  

Ibijyanye n’inkomoko y’Urubura, yababwiye ko igicu kiba kigiye gutanga imvura gishobora gukonja cyane noneho mo imbere mu gicu hakiremamo utubuye. Afatiye ku binyobwa bisanzwe bizwi yababwiye ko ari nkuko na Fanta iyo ikonje cyane usanga yabaye urubura. Afatiye kuri urwo rugero, yababwiye ko iyo imvura iguye, twa tubuye aritwo tumanuka ariko tukagera ku butaka tugaragara nk’urubura.

Abaturage basabwe mbere na mbere kwizera Iteganyagihe igihe bashatse kubaza ibisobanuro bagahamagara nimero itishyurwa yashyizweho na Meteo Rwanda ariyo 6080. Abamaze guhugurwa bose hamwe ubu ni 1137 mu bice bitandukanye by'igihugu ndetse igikorwa kikaba gikomeje.  

Iteganyagihe ry'ukwezi kwa Mata kugeza Kamena 2016

Ikigo cy’Igihugu cy’Ubumenyi bw’Ikirere kinejejwe no kumenyesha abanyarwanda nabandi bantu bose bireba uko  imvura y’umuhindo (kuva Mata kugeza Kamena 2016) izaba iteye.

Iteganyagihe kuva muri Mata kugeza Kamena 2016

Duhereye ku isesengura ry’ibipimo by’imvura n’ibyubushyuhe ryakozwe n’impuguke mu by’ubumenyi bw’ikirere (climate scientists) rikaba ryarakorewe mu kigo cy’ubumenyi bw’ikirere cy’u Rwanda (Meteo Rwanda).

Twifashishije ibipimo by’imvura n’ubushyuhe bwo ku bupimiro bwo mu gihugu cyacu (stations) mu gihe cy’imyaka 45 ishize, iby’ubushyuhe bw’amazi y’inyanja ngari (iya Pacifique, iy’Ubuhinde n’iy’Antlantique) n’ibindi binyabihe biterwa n’imbaraga z’umuyaga zifata akarere k’Afurika yo hagati n’iy’iburasirazuba, dusanga imvura y’ukwezi kwa Mata kugeza Kamena 2016 izaba iri ku kigereranyo cy’imvura ihagije ariko ishobora kuba nyinshi mu duce twinshi two mu burengerazuba, mu majyaruguru no mujyepfo y’uburengerazuba naho mu duce two mu burasirazuba, umujyi wa Kigali, no mu turere twinshi two mu Majyepfo ndetse n’akarere ka Rusizi bazagira imvura ihagije nkuko isanzwe igwa mu bihe byiza.

Byumvikane ko hari uturere tuzagusha imvura kurusha utundi biturutse ku miterere yatwo.

• Intara y’Iburasirazuba (Ngoma, Gatsibo, Bugesera, Kirehe, Rwamagana, Kayonza na Nyagatare), Umujyi wa Kigali (Nyarugenge, Kicukiro and Gasabo) no mu Ntara y’Amajyepfo  mu turere twa Kamonyi, Muhanga, Ruhango, Huye Gisagara, Nyanza na hateganyijwe imvura nk’isanzwe igwa mu bihe byiza.

• Intara y’Uburengerazuba (Nyamasheke, Karongi, Rubavu, Nyabihu na Ngororero), Intara y’Amajyaruguru (Burera, Gakenke, Musanze, Gicumbi na  Rulindo), ndetse  n’akarere  ka Nyaruguru na Nyamagabe ko mu Ntara ya Majyepfo) hateganyijwe imvura nkisanzwe ihagwa mubihe byiza ariko ishobora kuzaba nyinshi.

Ikigereranyo cy’imvura y’itumba 2016 

• Imvura nyinshi iri hejuru ya milimetero  370  

• Imvura ihagije iri hagati ya milimetero 270 na 370

Ikigo cy’Igihugu cy’Ubumenyi bw’Ikirere gikurikije iri teganyagihe ry’imvura ya Mata -Kameza 2016, kirasaba abo bireba bose ko byaba byiza buri rwego urwo arirwo rwose ko bafata ingamba zo gukumira cyangwa kugabanya ingaruka zaterwa n’imvura nyinshi iteganyijwe.

Ingero :

·  Kubera imvura nyinshi iteganyijwe, hakwiye gusiburwa inzira z’amazi kugirango imivu n’inkangu bitangiza ibikorwa remezo.

·  Imvura nyinshi iteganyijwe ishobora guteza ibiza mu turere tumwe na tumwe tw’Igihugu, hagakwiye gufatwa ingamba nababishinzwe zo gukangurira abaturage uburyo bafata ingamba mbere y’igihe bakirinda ingaruka zabageraho.

  

·  Imvura nyinshi iteganyijwe ishobora kwongera ibyorezo by’indwara kubaturage, hagakwiye gufatwa ingamba zo kubyirinda. 

Ukeneye ibindi bisobanuro wakwiyambaza Ikigo cy'Igihugu cy'Ubumenyi bw'Ikirere (Rwanda Meteorology Agency) cyangwa ugahamagara kuri nimero itishyuzwa 6080.

Meteo Rwanda’s Director General Message to the 22th Commemoration of 1994 Genocide against Tutsi

Today, on 7^th April 2016 we are commemorating the 22^th anniversary of the 1994 Genocide against TUTSI. As we remember the lives of over one million victims who lost their lives, Rwanda Meteorology Agency stands in solidarity with those who lost their beloved ones and wish them to be strong in these difficult moments. 

As we, Meteo Rwanda Staff pay tribute to those who perished during the Genocide, we are aware that there are those people who still have the Genocide Ideology. The theme of this year’s commemoration is: “Kwibuka 22: Fighting Genocide Ideology”. Because of that, Meteo Rwanda Staff remain committed to raise our voices fighting the Genocide ideology because we know that those who perpetrated the Genocide against the Tutsi, with their sympathizers have continued to deny it and distort the truth about what happened.

Thus, during the commemoration week, all Meteo Rwanda staff are determined to participate in the dialogues to be held at village level and participate in the various activities that aim to support the vulnerable Genocide Survivors. Rwanda Meteorology Agency will join the Ministry of Natural Resources during the event of remembering their former employees who perished in the Genocide against the Tutsi.

Rwanda Meteorology Agency will spare no effort in fighting against Genocide and its denial.

We wish all Rwandans strength and peace during these difficult moments.

Meteo Rwanda to train Farmers Cooperatives on the application of weather and climate information into agriculture sector

Rwanda Meteorology Agency with funding from Post-Harvest and Agribusiness Support Project (PASP) started training Farmer’s Cooperatives across the country.

The initial training was conducted in Northern Provinces from 23^rd to 25^th March 2016. It was established six agricultural HUBs that will be used to disseminate weather and climate information to the farmers. Around 180 farmers from different cooperatives were trained.

The training is aimed at increasing awareness of Meteo Rwanda products and services especially in agriculture in order to support farmers on their day-to-day activities. Meteo Rwanda generates the following products: Ten days climate bulletin, seasonal forecast and agro meteorological advisories.

The workshop furthermore, enhanced the application of Meteo Rwanda products and services destined towards farmers using HUB information in Musanze district.

The workshop was also the occasion to have in place the feedback mechanism between Meteo Rwanda and farmers on how they apply Meteo Rwanda products in the agricultural sector, disaster preparedness, climate change mitigation among others.

The aim of SPIU/PASP project is to reduce poverty, increase rural income and contribute to the overall economic development of Rwanda.

The workshop also developed a strong partnership between agriculture extension officers and sector Agronomist with Meteo-Rwanda toward efficient and rapid dissemination of meteorological information to farmers.

Rwanda Meteorology Agency is the National Meteorological Service with a mission of providing accurate, timely weather and climate information and products for the general welfare of the Republic of Rwanda. 

Rwanda joins the World in celebration of World Meteorological Day

On this Wednesday 23^rd March 2016, Rwanda joins the World in celebrating the World Meteorological Day with the theme: “Hotter, Drier, Wetter. Face the Future”. 

The theme was chosen due to the fact that our climate is changing, and this is not just a future scenario, it is happening now. The climate will continue to change over the coming decades as more and more heat-trapping greenhouse gases emitted by human activities accumulate in the atmosphere. 

The world just had its hottest year 2015, hottest five year period and hottest decade. The fact is that on record 15 of the 16 hottest years have occurred this century. 2011-2015 was the hottest five-year period on record. Climate change increased the risk of excess heat, by significant margin according to scientific assessments. 

Commenting on the World Meteorological Day, John Ntaganda Semafara the Director General at Meteo Rwanda and the Permanent Representative of Rwanda with the World Meteorological Organization said that today is a historic day for the 53^rd year of Rwanda being a member of World Meteorological Organization and the 65^th year since the World Meteorological Organization was recognized as a specialized Agency of the United Nations. 

The global average surface temperature in 2015 smashed all previous records, and was about 0.73°C above the 1961-1990 average of 14.0°C. For the first time, the temperature reached the milestone of 1°C above the pre-industrial 1880-1899 period. This means we are already half-way towards the 2° C limit, above which life on the planet will become increasingly precarious.

Mr. Musoni Didace, Division Manager of Data Observations, Quality Control and Processing Division said that from the meteorological data records, Rwanda experienced the increase of about 1°C which is almost in agreement with the World Global Concern. 

Rainfall varies naturally from year to year and from decade to decade, influenced by a Global circulation phenomenon often influenced by the El Niño and other climate drivers.

In addition to natural climate variability, climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions will have an increasing impact on the water cycle. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the contrast in precipitation between wet and dry regions and between wet and dry seasons will increase during the 21st century.

Wet areas will become wetter, and dry areas drier. The extent and speed of these changes will depend on whether we achieve the target of keeping temperature increases to less than 2°Celsius above the pre-industrial era.

Drought in East Africa in 1998/1999 into early 2000 resulted in widespread loss of life and food shortages. Most of the Southern and Eastern parts of Rwanda were impacted heavily by this drought. The arrival of El Niño in 2015 brought significant rains in the Equatorial East Africa and in particular to Rwanda Central and Western parts of the country realized above normal rainfalls and some pockets of Eastern parts experienced drier conditions than was predicted mainly due to local characteristics. 

Rwanda Meteorological Agency as the country’s authority in weather and climate monitoring and related information dissemination, was able to generate early warnings with regard to the current El Nino and on timely basis was able to issue and disseminate warnings about likely extreme weather events of high impacts. 

The Director General of Rwanda Meteorology Agency (Meteo Rwanda) thanked the Government of Rwanda which responded promptly to the information given by Meteo Rwanda by martialing both human and material resources to contain the impacts of likely disasters through inter-ministerial response committees that were strengthened.  

Fortunately, the world’s governments are now fully convinced of the scientific evidence of climate change and the need to take urgent action. More research and investment is needed for advancing low-carbon technologies, particularly in the energy sector and environmental management. As of now many policies, technologies and actions are available, and their deployment needs to be scaled up locally as well as internationally. We therefore call upon individual citizens, community leaders; private sector organizations, civil society organizations, local government, regional organizations and the United Nations system to all contribute towards combating climate change impacts.

Remarks by Director General of Meteo Rwanda launching the Enhancing National Climate Services Program and the Rwanda Climate Services for Agriculture

 

Mr. John Ntaganda Semafara, Direcror General of Meteo officiating the Launch

The representative of CIAT Africa

The USAID Rwanda representative

The RAB representative

Ladies and Gentlemen

All protocol observed!

It is my pleasure to be here today in this joint occasion of launching of the Enhancing National Climate Services Program of Rwanda Meteorology Agency and the Rwanda Climate Services for Agriculture: Empowering Farmers to Manage Risk and Adapt to a Changing Climate in Rwanda.  

Distinguished guest, climate information plays a crucial role in national development planning, managing climate risks and maximizing opportunities. Availability of decision-relevant climate information about the past climate, recent trends, likely future trajectories, and associated impacts is a prerequisite for climate-informed decision making.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Rwanda Meteorology Agency is the main provider of climate information and weather stations are the main sources of climate and weather data. In this regards, one of our major challenge has been a 15-year gap in observations from 1994 to 2009, a result of Rwanda’s recent traumatic history that had weather stations’ infrastructure at near collapse.  This gap has been a serious challenge in the effort to reconstruct a long historical time series and provide the required services. 

To overcome this, the Rwanda Meteorology Agency, in collaboration with the International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI) and its Partners, has made progress to fill the data gaps thorough IRI’s ENACTS (Enhancing National Climate Services) initiative. As, a result of the ENACTS initiative implemented at Meteo Rwanda, we have now complete rainfall and temperature data for every 5kmgrid across Rwanda. The availability of this high-resolution, spa­tially and temporally continuous climate data is transformative and will be critical for delivering climate information at the community level.  

However, availability of climate data may not necessarily lead to their uptake by itself. Climate information must be made available to users and users need to be engaged on the value and application of climate information products. The ENACTS initiate has also enabled Meteo Rwanda to provide access a verities of climate information products through the Internet. This interactive online tool will be demonstrated here today.

Building on the innovative data sets and information products developed by ENACTS, the Rwanda Climate Services for Agriculture project that is being launched today will enable Meteo Rwanda to provide climate information to agriculture at different levels (from farmers to government ministries). This will empower farmers to manage climate risk and adapt to a ahanging climate. This will hep to improve agricultural planning and food security management at both local and central government levels.

By the end of the project period, nearly a million farmers will have timely access to useful climate services. They will have better opportunities to transform their livelihoods through improved agricultural productivity.

The Agricultural planners, policy makers, investors, and food security specialists will be able to respond more effectively to droughts, floods and other climate-related risks. I understand that at the end of the project, a national network of climate services will be operational, with key national agencies able to sustainably deliver climate services to farmers.

Towards the end of my remarks, I would like to thank IRI and the Africa Climate Policy Centre (ACPC) for supporting the implementation of ENACTS in Rwanda. I would also like to thank   USAID Rwanda for funding the new project and  sponsoring this launch.

With this few remarks, I thank you all and I wish a nice day.

SEASONAL FORECAST FOR MARCH TO MAY (MAM) 2016

Rwanda Meteorology Agency (METEO RWANDA) hereby releases the seasonal rainfall forecast for March to May 2016.

RAINFALL OUTLOOK FOR MARCH TO MAY 2016

 Regional and international Climate scientists involved in the prediction of seasonal rainfall converged in Nairobi, KENYA, at the  IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Center (ICPAC), from 15 -20 February to analyze and deliberate on the historical data of rainfall and temperature  from across the ten countries (Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda). Several world research Centre’s were represented and after deliberations the scientists came up with a consensus forecast for the IGAD region and the affiliated countries of Rwanda, Tanzania and Burundi.
 

For Rwanda we used historical rainfall and temperature data for more than 45 years from different stations across the country with sea surface temperatures from the global oceans (Indian, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans).

From the Statistical and Dynamical analyses done for each zone in Rwanda, the seasonal forecast obtained is as follows: The Eastern Province (Ngoma, Gatsibo, Bugesera, Kirehe, Rwamagana, Kayonza and Nyagatare), Kigali City (Nyarugenge, Kicukiro and Gasabo) and Southern Province (Kamonyi, Muhanga, Ruhango, Nyanza, Huye, Gisagara, Nyaruguru and Nyamagabe) are expected to have a normal rainfall season with tendency to slightly above normal in certain places due to their unique characteristics.

The Western Province (Rusizi, Nyamasheke, Karongi, Rubavu, Nyabihu and Ngororero), and Northern Province (Rulindo, Musanze, Bulera, Gicumbi and Gakenke) are expected to have normal to above normal rainfall in many places.

The rainfall distribution in Rwanda has been divided into two categories which are as follows: above normal and normal to slightly above normal rainfall according to the cumulative range of rainfall amounts during the period of March to May rainfall seasons:

Above Normal= >400 mm;

Normal= 350-400 mm.

 

RAINFALL OUTLOOK FOR MARCH TO MAY 2016

The powerful 2015-2016 El Niño phenomenon has passed its peak but remains strong and will continue to influence the global climate, according to the latest update from the World Meteorological Organization. It is expected to attain neutral conditions by May or June 2016. It is too early to predict whether there will be a swing to La Niña (the opposite of El Niño) after that but we in Meteo Rwanda shall continue to provide you with updates.
 

Expected impacts in various sectors

The normal to above normal rainfall expected during the March to May rainfall season may cause floods and other related disasters such as landslides,destruction of houses and other weather related impacts. Thefore relevant authorities responsible for infrastructures,health,agriculture and other vurnerable sectors should put in place both preventive and mitigative strategies to minimize loss of life and property.

The above normal rainfall during the season may result into the following:

• Floods and landslides over some parts of the country.   
• Reduced agricultural activities in some areas due to landslides, floods and water logging in some areas.
• Damage to Infrastructure in some parts of the country.   
• Increased occurrence of water borne diseases.

N.B This outlook will be supplemented by the regular updates of different timescales (24-hours, 3-days, 5-days and 10-days forecasts and regular monthly updates) and other advisories issued by Rwanda Meteorology Agency.

 Done on 02 March, 2016.