Zambia Meteorological Department forecasts heavy rainfall across most parts of Zambia

The Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD) has predicted a more than 70 percent chance of over 50 millimeters of rainfall in most parts of the country from 20th to 26th January 2026, according to its latest Weekly Weather Bulletin.

However, the Western Province and western areas of Northwestern Province are expected to receive less than a 60 percent chance of rainfall exceeding 50mm during the same period.

During the forecast week, Southern, Lusaka, Central, Copperbelt, Luapula, Muchinga, Northern, Eastern, and eastern Northwestern Provinces are likely to experience mainly cloudy mornings, mild temperatures, occasional wind, isolated showers, and thunderstorms.

Minimum temperatures in these regions were expected to range between 11°C and 21°C, while afternoons would be mostly cloudy and warm with rain and thunderstorms, with maximum temperatures ranging from 24°C to 31°C. Nights will remain mainly cloudy, mildly windy, and rainy at times.

For Western Province and the western parts of Northwestern Province, mornings are expected to be cloudy and mild with isolated showers and occasional thunder, with minimum temperatures between 13°C and 20°C.

“Afternoons will be mainly cloudy, warm, and occasionally windy with isolated storms, reaching maximum temperatures of 24°C to 32°C, while nights will continue to be cloudy, windy at times, and stormy in places,” it stated.

In its advisory, ZMD urged farmers to start planting crops as guided by Agriculture Extension Officers.
Farmers were also advised to carefully manage fertiliser application to reduce leaching and maintain proper field drainage in areas expecting heavy rainfall.

The public has been warned to avoid sheltering under trees or parking vehicles beneath them during storms.

WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.