In 2019 the rainfall in the Angola highlands was way below average and the Okavango floods were almost non-existent. So, what are the predictions for 2020?
So far, there have been good rains in Angola and water levels in the Okavango river remain higher than the same time last year. The water levels are monitored in the village of Rundu in Namibia’s caprivi strip and show the following:
As you can see from the chart, in January 2020 (the red line) the river level is already much higher that in 2019 (yellow line). Hopefully there will be more rain, river levels will continue to rise and the delta will receive much needed water soon.
The source of the Okavango Delta flood actually lies in the extremely wet highlands of Angola north of Botswana. From here the Okavango River flows south through Namibia away from the sea. It forms part of the border between Angola and Namibia, and then flows into Botswana.
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There is good news on the Okavango Delta’s 2020 floods. The excellent rains that have fallen in Angola these past months has resulted in the water levels in the Okavango River rapidly rising with a lot more still to come. This years flood levels are at their highest at this time of year for at least the past 5 years. The flood table provided by Hydrology Namibia. These measurements are taken at their measuring station at Rundu just before the Okavango River flows into Botswana. The Okavango needs high floods this year to compensate for last years terribly low floods.
On the 17 Feb 2020 we are sitting at 6.60m at Rundu — last year we were at 4.96 and the average per year is 5.38m.
On the 21 Feb 2020 we are sitting at 6.96m at Rundu — last year we were at 5.10 and the average per year is 5.50m.
On the 24 Feb 2020 we are sitting at 7.06m at Rundu — last year we were at 5.14 and the average per year is 5.59m.
On the 2 March 2020 we are sitting at 7.61m at Rundu — last year we were at 5.08 and the average per year is 5.80m.