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River Flows

The hydrometric network used for the control and day to day operations of the Kariba reservoir comprise of thirteen stations where water levels are monitored daily. Flow measurements are carried out at eight of these stations which include the Victoria Falls, one of the key stations on the Zambezi River. Coincidentally, the maximum flow recorded at Victoria Falls was during the early construction phase of Kariba Dam in March 1958 at 10,000 cubic metres per second.  The lowest flows recorded to date at Victoria Falls were during the 1995/96 season which had an annual mean flow of 390 cubic metres per second, whereas the Long Term Mean Annual flow at Victoria Falls is 1,100 cubic metres per second.

FLOWS AT SELECTED STATIONS:

Chavuma

Zambezi River flows at Chavuma are steadily decreasing and are lower than what was recorded last year.  The flows closed the period under review at 750m3/s on 6th May 2024 whilst last year on the same date it was 1,317m3/s.

From:
23 April 2024
To:
6 May 2024
DateFlow (m3/s)(2023/24)Flow (m3/s)(2022/23)
23-Apr9252,073
24-Apr9592,003
25-Apr9731,955
26-Apr9711,906
27-Apr9641,845
28-Apr9491,776
29-Apr9161,700
30-Apr8911,631
1-May8701,582
2-May8431,518
3-May8211,453
4-May7991,404
5-May7741,356
6-May7501,317

Nana's Farm

The Zambezi River flows at Nana’s Farm, located some 33km upstream of Victoria Falls (typically the same reach) have steadily been increasing with records of fluctuations being observed, closing the period under review at 751m3/s on 6th May 2024. The flow observed on the same date last year was 2,023m3/s.

From:
23 April 2024
To:
6 May 2024
DateFlow (m3/s)(2023/24)Flow (m3/s)(2022/23)
23-Apr6971,891
24-Apr6981,883
25-Apr6981,879
26-Apr7031,872
27-Apr7051,870
28-Apr7071,870
29-Apr7111,874
30-Apr7161,885
1-May7231,893
2-May7261,917
3-May7241,932
4-May7291,954
5-May7351,990
6-May7512,023
nana

Ngonye

Flows at Ngonye have been increasing steadily, closing the period under review at 900m3/s on 6th May 2024. The flow recorded last year on the same date was 2,713m3/s.

From:
23 April 2024
To:
6 May 2024
DateFlow (m3/s)(2023/24)Flow (m3/s)(2022/23)
23-Apr7881,993
24-Apr7962,040
25-Apr8042,077
26-Apr8132,129
27-Apr8232,188
28-Apr8282,237
29-Apr8342,301
30-Apr8392,358
1-May8522,419
2-May8602,478
3-May8672,529
4-May8772,575
5-May8802,650
6-May9002,713

Victoria Falls/Big Tree

The Zambezi River flows at Victoria Falls are steadily increasing with records of fluctuation being observed, closing the period under review at 751m3/s on 6th May 2024.  The flow observed on the same date last year was 2,023m3/s.

From:
23 April 2024
To:
6 May 2024
DateFlow (m3/s)(2023/24)Flow (m3/s)(2022/23)
23-Apr6971,891
24-Apr6981,883
25-Apr6981,879
26-Apr7031,872
27-Apr7051,870
28-Apr7071,870
29-Apr7111,874
30-Apr7161,885
1-May7231,893
2-May7261,917
3-May7241,932
4-May7291,954
5-May7351,990
6-May7512,023
vic-falls