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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 are decreasing, closing the period under review at 870m3/s as of 27th May 2025, whilst last year on the same date it was much lower at 427m3/s.

From:
21 May 2025
To:
27 May 2025
DateFlow (m3/s)(2024/25)Flow (m3/s)(2023/24)
21-May1,062493
22-May1,026478
23-May996470
24-May963458
25-May925447
26-May894437
27-May870427
chavuma

Ngonye

Flows at Ngonye are decreasing steadily, closing the period under review at 2,713m3/s as of 27th May 2025. The flow recorded last year on the same date was lower at 1,059m3/s.

From:
21 May 2025
To:
27 May 2025
DateFlow (m3/s)(2024/25)Flow (m3/s)(2023/24)
21-May2,8351,021
22-May2,8081,029
23-May2,7991,036
24-May2,7851,043
25-May2,7731,048
26-May2,7421,052
27-May2,7131,059
ngonye

Victoria Falls (Nana’s Farm Station)

The Zambezi River flows at Victoria Falls – Nana’s Farm Station are decreasing steadily, closing the period under review at 2,790m3/s as of 27th May 2025.  The flow observed on the same date last year was lower at 893m3/s.

From:
21 May 2025
To:
27 May 2025
DateFlow (m3/s)(2024/25)Flow (m3/s)(2023/24)
21-May2,811854
22-May2,806860
23-May2,787865
24-May2,783874
25-May2,778881
26-May2,778887
27-May2,790893
vic-falls