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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 756m3/s as of 26th May 2026, whilst last year on the same date it was at 894m3/s.

From:
13 May 2026
To:
26 May 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
13-May10761477
14-May10461405
15-May10141331
16-May9851281
17-May9611231
18-May9361185
19-May9051137
20-May8841099
21-May8611062
22-May8411026
23-May819996
24-May801963
25-May779925
26-May756894

Ngonye

Flows at Ngonye are steadily decreasing, closing the period under review at 2,417m3/s as of 26th May 2026. The flow recorded last year on the same date was lower at 2,742m3/s.

From:
13 May 2026
To:
26 May 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
13-May30632847
14-May30092842
15-May29602837
16-May29142825
17-May28662825
18-May28162825
19-May27682823
20-May27202823
21-May26732835
22-May26242808
23-May25802799
24-May25172785
25-May24692773
26-May24172742

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 3,032m3/s as of 26th May 2026.  The flow observed on the same date last year was lower at 2,778m3/s.

From:
13 May 2026
To:
26 May 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
13-May34832808
14-May34652806
15-May34302808
16-May34022820
17-May33702823
18-May33302820
19-May32952818
20-May32612815
21-May32482811
22-May31892806
23-May31482787
24-May31242783
25-May30852778
26-May30322778