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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 in recession, closing the period under review at 114m3/s as of 16th September 2026, whilst last year on the same date it was at 102m3/s. 

From:
3 September 2026
To:
16 September 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
3-Sept129125
4-Sept126122
5-Sept123119
6-Sept126118
7-Sept126116
8-Sept124115
9-Sept121113
10-Sept120112
11-Sept120110
12-Sept119108
13-Sept117107
14-Sept121105
15-Sept115104
16-Sept114102

Ngonye

Flows at Ngonye are steadily decreasing, closing the period under review at 377m3/s as of 16th September 2026. The flow recorded last year on the same date was at 322m3/s.

From:
3 September 2026
To:
16 September 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
3-Sept433378
4-Sept427370
5-Sept425365
6-Sept418363
7-Sept413356
8-Sept413354
9-Sept402353
10-Sept399348
11-Sept395344
12-Sept390339
13-Sept388334
14-Sept385328
15-Sept378326
16-Sept377322

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 397m3/s as of 16th September 2026.  The flow observed on the same date last year was at 343m3/s.

From:
16 September 2026
To:
16 September 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
3-Sept453402
4-Sept451394
5-Sept447385
6-Sept444383
7-Sept438379
8-Sept433377
9-Sept427369
10-Sept424364
11-Sept419361
12-Sept415357
13-Sept410353
14-Sept407351
15-Sept403347
16-Sept397343