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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

The Zambezi River flows at Chavuma have increased significantly, closing the period under review at 2,039m3/s on 3rd March 2025 whilst last year on the same date it was much lower at 366m3/s.

From:
25 February 2025
To:
3 March 2025
DateFlow (m3/s)(2024/25)Flow (m3/s)(2023/24)
25-Feb1,821387
26-Feb1,906384
27-Feb1,964383
28-Feb1,964375
1-Mar1,982369
2-Mar2,009347
3-Mar2,039366
chavuma

Ngonye

Flows at Ngonye are increasing steadily due to rainfall activity on the catchment, closing the period under review at 890m3/s as of 3rd March 2025. The flow recorded last year on the same date was lower at 880m3/s.

From:
25 February 2025
To:
3 March 2025
DateFlow (m3/s)(2024/25)Flow (m3/s)(2023/24)
25-Feb780890
26-Feb812893
27-Feb813906
28-Feb841895
1-Mar860890
2-Mar877883
3-Mar890880
ngonye

Victoria Falls (Nana’s Farm Station)

The Zambezi River flows at Victoria Falls – Nana’s Farm Station are increasing steadily, closing the period under review at 769m3/s on 3rd March 2025.  The flow observed on the same date last year was higher at 799m3/s.

From:
25 February 2025
To:
3 March 2025
DateFlow (m3/s)(2024/25)Flow (m3/s)(2023/24)
25-Feb692787
26-Feb705790
27-Feb719793
28-Feb727796
1-Mar721799
2-Mar752799
3-Mar769799
vic-falls