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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 steadily decreasing, closing the period under review at 936m3/s as of 18th May 2026, whilst last year on the same date it was at 1,185m3/s.

From:
5 May 2026
To:
18 May 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
5-May13852584
6-May13382441
7-May12972296
8-May12552070
9-May12121955
10-May11791798
11-May11481655
12-May11101557
13-May10761477
14-May10461405
15-May10141331
16-May9851281
17-May9611231
18-May9361185

Ngonye

Flows at Ngonye are steadily decreasing, closing the period under review at 2,816m3/s as of 18th May 2026. The flow recorded last year on the same date was lower at 2,825m3/s.

From:
5 May 2026
To:
18 May 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
5-May33902982
6-May33652960
7-May33172941
8-May32672929
9-May32392912
10-May32022883
11-May31622880
12-May31172866
13-May30632847
14-May30092842
15-May29602837
16-May29602825
17-May29142825
18-May28162825

Victoria Falls (Nana’s Farm Station)

The Zambezi River flows at Victoria Falls – Nana’s Farm Station are steadily decreasing, closing the period under review at 3,330m3/s as of 18th May 2026.  The flow observed on the same date last year was lower at 2,820m3/s.

From:
5 May 2026
To:
18 May 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
5-May36102635
6-May36072658
7-May35872690
8-May35692706
9-May35592752
10-May35442759
11-May35262773
12-May35082804
13-May34832808
14-May34652806
15-May34302808
16-May34022820
17-May33702823
18-May33302820