By Munacho Gwamanda — The Meteorological Services Department (MSD) has dismissed fears of a devastating cyclone but warned of heavy downpours and potential flooding across Zimbabwe.

In a statement, the MSD forecasted rainfall exceeding 50 millimetres (mm) within 24 hours in several regions until the weekend. The advisory highlighted:

“An abundance of moisture in the atmosphere, brought by a cloud system, has been causing rainfall across the country since late December 2024 and continues into January 2025.”

Affected Areas and Forecast

• 5–8 January 2025: Scattered thundershowers are expected in Matabeleland North, northern Midlands, Harare Metropolitan, northern Manicaland, and all Mashonaland provinces.
• 10 January 2025: Rainfall exceeding 50mm in 24 hours is predicted for southern Mashonaland West, Mashonaland East, and Harare Metropolitan provinces.

The MSD noted that additional moisture from the southeast coast of Southern Africa would bring cloudy, windy, and cold conditions to Matabeleland South, Masvingo, and Manicaland provinces starting Wednesday evening.

Flooding and Storm Risks

The department cautioned that flooding could occur even in areas with lighter rainfall due to upstream water flow. Violent storms may lead to falling trees, collapsing billboards, and blown-off rooftops caused by strong winds.

Public Safety Advisory

The MSD urged citizens to:

• Secure rooftops and other property.
• Avoid parking vehicles under trees.
• Refrain from standing under trees or being the tallest object to reduce lightning risks.
• Avoid using heavy outdoor machinery during storms.