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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 645m3/s as of 1st June 2026, whilst last year on the same date it was at 750m3/s.

From:
19 May 2026
To:
1 June 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
19-May9051137
20-May8841099
21-May8611062
22-May8411026
23-May819996
24-May801963
25-May779925
26-May756894
27-May737870
28-May718842
29-May698818
30-May679798
31-May663770
1-Jun645750

Ngonye

Flows at Ngonye are steadily decreasing, closing the period under review at 2,131m3/s as of 1st June 2026. The flow recorded last year on the same date was at 2,517m3/s.

From:
19 May 2026
To:
1 June 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
19-May27682823
20-May27202823
21-May26732835
22-May26242808
23-May25802799
24-May25172785
25-May24692773
26-May24172742
27-May23602713
28-May23132683
29-May22632657
30-May22232610
31-May21752575
1-Jun21312517

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 2,750m3/s as of 1st June 2026.  The flow observed on the same date last year was at 2,776m3/s.

From:
19 May 2026
To:
1 June 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
19-May32952818
20-May32612815
21-May32482811
22-May31892806
23-May31482787
24-May31242783
25-May30852778
26-May30322778
27-May29912790
28-May29452794
29-May29052790
30-May28652790
31-May28512785
1-Jun27502776