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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 rising steadily as the rainfall season progresses, peaking to 2,595m3/s on 15th February 2026 before dropping to 2,575m3/s as of 16th February 2026, whilst last year on the same date it was lower at 1,713m3/s.

From:
3 February 2026
To:
16 February 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2024/25)Flow (m3/s)(2023/24)
3-Feb909365
4-Feb1,053401
5-Feb1,175438
6-Feb1,354494
7-Feb1,508561
8-Feb1,612631
9-Feb1,763696
10-Feb1,961826
11-Feb2,083988
12-Feb2,2281,160
13-Feb2,3761,319
14-Feb2,5211,488
15-Feb2,5951,606
16-Feb2,5751,713

Ngonye

Flows at Ngonye are increasing with records of fluctuation being observed due to the influence of local rainfall activity, closing the period under review at 1,031m3/s as of 16th February 2026. The flow recorded last year on the same date was lower at 653m3/s.

From:
3 February 2026
To:
16 February 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2024/25)Flow (m3/s)(2023/24)
3-Feb833545
4-Feb841553
5-Feb850556
6-Feb857562
7-Feb867572
8-Feb896582
9-Feb895586
10-Feb913596
11-Feb939600
12-Feb954616
13-Feb971628
14-Feb985640
15-Feb1,014644
16-Feb1,031653

Victoria Falls (Nana’s Farm Station)

The Zambezi River flows at Victoria Falls – Nana’s Farm Station fluctuated due to reduction in rainfall activity around the catchment of interest, closing the period under review at 890m3/s as of 16th February 2026.  The flow observed on the same date last year was lower at 587m3/s.

From:
3 February 2026
To:
16 February 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2024/25)Flow (m3/s)(2023/24)
3-Feb881535
4-Feb877544
5-Feb867542
6-Feb856544
7-Feb846546
8-Feb853544
9-Feb842542
10-Feb831542
11-Feb832543
12-Feb849552
13-Feb871559
14-Feb952575
15-Feb879575
16-Feb890587