By Ziyah News Reporter
ZIMBABWE is bracing for a largely drier-than-normal 2026/2027 rainfall season, with a very strong El Niño expected to influence weather conditions across the country, Cabinet has warned.
The forecast was presented during the Twenty-Ninth Post-Cabinet Press Briefing on Tuesday after Cabinet was updated on the 2026/2027 Seasonal Rainfall Outlook by the Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, Evelyn Ndlovu.
The National Climate Outlook covers the period from October 2026 to March 2027 and was developed following the consensus regional climate outlook issued at the Thirty-Third Southern African Regional Climate Outlook Forum held in Swakopmund, Namibia, from 25 to 28 August 2026.
According to the outlook, the very strong El Niño phenomenon is expected to increase the likelihood of below-normal to normal rainfall during the season.
The national outlook is divided into two periods, covering October to December 2026 and January to March 2027.
For October to December, the country is expected to experience an increased likelihood of below-normal to normal cumulative rainfall.
However, authorities cautioned that local variations remain possible as the El Niño phenomenon develops.
“Generally, the rainfall season will be erratic in space and time with frequent dry spells, which may be extended in some months and feature warmer-than-normal temperatures,” Cabinet said.
Despite the generally dry conditions expected across the country during the first three months of the season, some districts in Matabeleland South and Masvingo provinces could receive near-normal rainfall in December.
The outlook for January to March 2027 points to continued dryness, particularly across the northern and eastern parts of the country, where rainfall is expected to range from below normal to normal and remain lower than long-term averages.
The southern and western parts of Zimbabwe are meanwhile expected to receive normal to below-normal rainfall during the same period, with cumulative rainfall forecast to remain within the normal range compared with long-term averages.
The forecast has raised the need for early preparations across government and other sectors, particularly given the potential effects of prolonged dry spells and warmer-than-normal temperatures.
Cabinet urged Ministries, Departments, Agencies and other stakeholders to strengthen contingency planning to minimise the potential humanitarian and socio-economic impacts of reduced rainfall.
It also called for intensified water harvesting and conservation programmes as the country prepares for the potentially challenging season.
The Meteorological Services Department of Zimbabwe is expected to continue providing detailed information and updates on the 2026/2027 summer season as weather conditions evolve.