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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

Zambezi River flows at Chavuma are fluctuating due to the influence of rainfall activity within the catchment of interest, closing the period under review at 92m3/s on 17th December 2024 whilst last year on the same date it was slightly higher at 254m3/s.

From:
4 December 2024
To:
17 December 2024
DateFlow (m3/s)(2023/24)Flow (m3/s)(2022/23)
4-Dec93142
5-Dec95156
6-Dec93163
7-Dec91167
8-Dec91173
9-Dec94182
10-Dec96188
11-Dec96193
12-Dec94204
13-Dec92207
14-Dec92243
15-Dec91246
16-Dec89249
17-Dec92254
chavuma

Nana's Farm

The Zambezi River flows at Nana’s Farm, located some 33km upstream of Victoria Falls (typically the same reach) have steadily been increasing due to rainfall activity being observed around the catchment of interest, closing the period under review at 273m3/s on 17th December 2024. The flow observed on the same date last year was slightly higher at 374m3/s.

From:
4 December 2024
To:
17 December 2024
DateFlow (m3/s)(2023/24)Flow (m3/s)(2022/23)
4-Dec244335
5-Dec245336
6-Dec248335
7-Dec250330
8-Dec251328
9-Dec254329
10-Dec254331
11-Dec260335
12-Dec262337
13-Dec265345
14-Dec269337
15-Dec269346
16-Dec271359
17-Dec273374
nana

Ngonye

Flows at Ngonye are increasing with records of fluctuations due to rainfall activity around the catchment, closing the period under review at 294m3/s as of 17th December 2024. The flow recorded last year on the same date was slightly higher at 436m3/s.

From:
14 December 2024
To:
17 December 2024
DateFlow (m3/s)(2023/24)Flow (m3/s)(2022/23)
4-Dec273333
5-Dec276332
6-Dec277336
7-Dec277345
8-Dec285347
9-Dec292352
10-Dec290350
11-Dec290369
12-Dec296373
13-Dec298387
14-Dec298406
15-Dec298409
16-Dec295421
17-Dec294436
ngonye

Victoria Falls (Nana’s Farm Station)

The Zambezi River flows at Victoria Falls are steadily increasing due to rainfall activities being observed around the catchment of interest, closing the period under review at 273m3/s on 17th December 2024.  The flow observed on the same date last year was slightly higher at 374m3/s.

From:
4 December 2024
To:
17 December 2024
DateFlow (m3/s)(2023/24)Flow (m3/s)(2022/23)
4-Dec244335
5-Dec245336
6-Dec248335
7-Dec250330
8-Dec251328
9-Dec254329
10-Dec254331
11-Dec260335
12-Dec262337
13-Dec265345
14-Dec269337
15-Dec269346
16-Dec271359
17-Dec273374
vic-falls