Victoria Falls thunders once again after dry season photos shocked tourists
By
Lauren Fox, AccuWeather staff writer
Published Apr 21, 2020 1:26 PM EST
During this year’s wet season in Africa, the water flow at Victoria Falls is well-above the long-term average, making the falls very strong.
After photos from Victoria Falls amid its dry season caused great concern in December, the magnificent falls are stronger than ever.
Victoria Falls, located at the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe on the Zambezi River, is not only one of the seven wonders of the world and classified as the biggest waterfall in the world, but it is also a tourist destination that allows the economies of both African countries to thrive.
The Kololo tribe, which resided in the area in the 1800s, named the falls "Mosi-oa-Tunya," meaning "the smoke that thunders." Both the indigenous name and the name Victoria Falls, given by Scottish explorer David Livingstone, are recognized officially.
AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Jim Andrews said the climate of the upper Zambezi River watershed is tropical, seasonal and continental, with "sharply distinct" wet and dry seasons.
Sunrise breaks above the raging Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, in this photo from recent years. (Ben Mcrae / Getty Images)
"In the Southern Summer, when the sun [is] overhead or even farther south, seasonal rains are in full swing," he said. This time is sometimes called the "northwest monsoon," Andrews continued, "as surface winds tend to blow from this direction."
"April to May marks the transition from wet to dry as the Southern Hemisphere awaits the onset of winter," Andrews explained. "It is a time in which dry air builds northward, drying out seasonal vegetation and turning the earth surface to dust." Rain, he said, can be rare until September or even October.
Trevor Lane, a conservationist that works for Bhejane Trust, lives in Victoria Falls. He said this year's rainy season, which goes from November to June or mid-April, will be the third-heaviest in recorded history, dating back to the 1960s.
On March 27, 2020, the water at Victoria Falls was recorded to be flowing 3,890 cubic meters per second, according to the Zambezi River Authority. In comparison, on March 27 of last year, the water was reported to be flowing 800 cubic meters per second. The long-term average flow for the falls around this date is 2,522 cubic meters per second, meaning the flow on March 27 was 54% above the long-term average and flourishing this year.
According to Zambia Tourism, visiting the falls during the dry season will not provide the expected waterfall experience, as some parts have no water falling at all, and other parts are diminished to a trickle. However, the dry season does have its perks for visitors -- the views of the cliffs.
Victoria Falls (aka Mosi-oa-Tunya - The Smoke that Thunders) down to a trickle during a recent dry season. (Goddard_Photography / Getty Images)
The months of March and April are when the waterfall reaches its peak. During the peak, there is so much spray from the strength of the water shooting up into the air that it cannot all be seen on foot, and is better viewed from the air.
"It's a spectacular power. The power of the water going over is unbelievable," Lane said.
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After rain falls, the water fills the Barotse Floodplain, the second-largest wetland in Zambia, before pouring over into the famous falls. Because of this process of the Barotse being filled up, the falls are able to flow even when the rain stops. November and December, when the rain starts back up again, is when the water pouring from the falls is at its lowest point. Even at its lowest point though, the flow does not stop.
The water flowed at 349 cubic meters per second in January this year, during the falls' dry season. Last year, Lane said the falls had the second-lowest recorded flow, following the lowest on record in 1995-96.
"This year we're going to have probably the biggest flood recorded from 1969 and the third biggest ever recorded here," Lane said. "This year is going to be massive. There's going to be so much water flowing over the falls."
The biggest recorded flood at the falls was from 1958 and was around 10,000 cubic meters per second.
Lane said flooding season is typically the best time for tourists to see the falls, but due to the intense nature of this season, the spray from the water may be too much. Lane lives 3 kilometers from the falls, and his windows rattle at night due to the vibrations of the water.
"You get this huge cloud of spray rising above the falls," Lane said. "Sometimes there's just too much water you can't see anything."
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, seen in all its majesty in a photo from recent years. (Jacynthroode / Getty Images)
While the falls will flourish during this time in a way that would normally attract many tourists, there will be almost no one around to witness the majesty due to COVID-19.
"We've got this major, major flood coming in and there's no one in town," Lane said. "There are no tourists who will witness it."
The lack of tourism has also allowed wildlife to roam back into town, and while Lane said seeing animals in town was not uncommon before, elephants, lions or hippos walking through town has become even more commonplace as the tourists have stayed out.
National parks such as Victoria Falls rely completely on revenue brought in from tourists to fund conservation efforts, and Lane is concerned the COVID-19 pandemic will impact tourism to the point where the parks can no longer be maintained. The government does not provide any funding toward the national parks, he said.
In addition to social distancing and travel restrictions, Lane said the rumors of the falls drying up have also negatively impacted tourism, and have affected jobs and businesses in Victoria Falls.
Low-water levels are seen after a prolonged drought at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe December 4, 2019. REUTERS/Staff
(REUTERS/Staff)
"It's a seasonal thing. It's not the first time it happened and it won't be the last [time] it happens. This is not the last flood that's going to come down either," Lane said.
Lane made clear that while people may be concerned for the flow of the falls from the pictures of the dry season, the water is not going anywhere any time soon.
"The falls [have] been like this for hundreds of years," Lane said. "It's almost like the river in rebellion has come down in this mess of floods this year to show that it's not going to dry up."
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
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News / Severe Weather
Victoria Falls thunders once again after dry season photos shocked tourists
By Lauren Fox, AccuWeather staff writer
Published Apr 21, 2020 1:26 PM EST
During this year’s wet season in Africa, the water flow at Victoria Falls is well-above the long-term average, making the falls very strong.
After photos from Victoria Falls amid its dry season caused great concern in December, the magnificent falls are stronger than ever.
Victoria Falls, located at the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe on the Zambezi River, is not only one of the seven wonders of the world and classified as the biggest waterfall in the world, but it is also a tourist destination that allows the economies of both African countries to thrive.
The Kololo tribe, which resided in the area in the 1800s, named the falls "Mosi-oa-Tunya," meaning "the smoke that thunders." Both the indigenous name and the name Victoria Falls, given by Scottish explorer David Livingstone, are recognized officially.
AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Jim Andrews said the climate of the upper Zambezi River watershed is tropical, seasonal and continental, with "sharply distinct" wet and dry seasons.
Sunrise breaks above the raging Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, in this photo from recent years. (Ben Mcrae / Getty Images)
"In the Southern Summer, when the sun [is] overhead or even farther south, seasonal rains are in full swing," he said. This time is sometimes called the "northwest monsoon," Andrews continued, "as surface winds tend to blow from this direction."
"April to May marks the transition from wet to dry as the Southern Hemisphere awaits the onset of winter," Andrews explained. "It is a time in which dry air builds northward, drying out seasonal vegetation and turning the earth surface to dust." Rain, he said, can be rare until September or even October.
Trevor Lane, a conservationist that works for Bhejane Trust, lives in Victoria Falls. He said this year's rainy season, which goes from November to June or mid-April, will be the third-heaviest in recorded history, dating back to the 1960s.
On March 27, 2020, the water at Victoria Falls was recorded to be flowing 3,890 cubic meters per second, according to the Zambezi River Authority. In comparison, on March 27 of last year, the water was reported to be flowing 800 cubic meters per second. The long-term average flow for the falls around this date is 2,522 cubic meters per second, meaning the flow on March 27 was 54% above the long-term average and flourishing this year.
According to Zambia Tourism, visiting the falls during the dry season will not provide the expected waterfall experience, as some parts have no water falling at all, and other parts are diminished to a trickle. However, the dry season does have its perks for visitors -- the views of the cliffs.
Victoria Falls (aka Mosi-oa-Tunya - The Smoke that Thunders) down to a trickle during a recent dry season. (Goddard_Photography / Getty Images)
The months of March and April are when the waterfall reaches its peak. During the peak, there is so much spray from the strength of the water shooting up into the air that it cannot all be seen on foot, and is better viewed from the air.
"It's a spectacular power. The power of the water going over is unbelievable," Lane said.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP
After rain falls, the water fills the Barotse Floodplain, the second-largest wetland in Zambia, before pouring over into the famous falls. Because of this process of the Barotse being filled up, the falls are able to flow even when the rain stops. November and December, when the rain starts back up again, is when the water pouring from the falls is at its lowest point. Even at its lowest point though, the flow does not stop.
The water flowed at 349 cubic meters per second in January this year, during the falls' dry season. Last year, Lane said the falls had the second-lowest recorded flow, following the lowest on record in 1995-96.
"This year we're going to have probably the biggest flood recorded from 1969 and the third biggest ever recorded here," Lane said. "This year is going to be massive. There's going to be so much water flowing over the falls."
The biggest recorded flood at the falls was from 1958 and was around 10,000 cubic meters per second.
Lane said flooding season is typically the best time for tourists to see the falls, but due to the intense nature of this season, the spray from the water may be too much. Lane lives 3 kilometers from the falls, and his windows rattle at night due to the vibrations of the water.
"You get this huge cloud of spray rising above the falls," Lane said. "Sometimes there's just too much water you can't see anything."
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, seen in all its majesty in a photo from recent years. (Jacynthroode / Getty Images)
While the falls will flourish during this time in a way that would normally attract many tourists, there will be almost no one around to witness the majesty due to COVID-19.
"We've got this major, major flood coming in and there's no one in town," Lane said. "There are no tourists who will witness it."
The lack of tourism has also allowed wildlife to roam back into town, and while Lane said seeing animals in town was not uncommon before, elephants, lions or hippos walking through town has become even more commonplace as the tourists have stayed out.
Related:
National parks such as Victoria Falls rely completely on revenue brought in from tourists to fund conservation efforts, and Lane is concerned the COVID-19 pandemic will impact tourism to the point where the parks can no longer be maintained. The government does not provide any funding toward the national parks, he said.
In addition to social distancing and travel restrictions, Lane said the rumors of the falls drying up have also negatively impacted tourism, and have affected jobs and businesses in Victoria Falls.
Low-water levels are seen after a prolonged drought at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe December 4, 2019. REUTERS/Staff
"It's a seasonal thing. It's not the first time it happened and it won't be the last [time] it happens. This is not the last flood that's going to come down either," Lane said.
Lane made clear that while people may be concerned for the flow of the falls from the pictures of the dry season, the water is not going anywhere any time soon.
"The falls [have] been like this for hundreds of years," Lane said. "It's almost like the river in rebellion has come down in this mess of floods this year to show that it's not going to dry up."
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
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