THE country expects to receive normal to above normal rains for the period between October 2021 and March 2022, mostly with normal temperatures recorded, the Minister of Energy and Meteorology, Mohapi Mohapinyane says.

This, he revealed during a press conference in Maseru on Tuesday.

Mr Mohapinyane however showed that the month of October is expected to experience normal to below normal rainfall.

“The onset of rains is forecast to be towards the end of October in the highlands and mid-November,” the Minister also said.

He noted that during the previous season, 2020 and 2021 people enjoyed good rains as the entire country received above normal rainfall during October to December and January to March 2021.

“But there were heavy rainfall experienced in January 2021 and dry conditions observed in April to June 2021 as below normal rains were received. However, heavy snowfall and widespread rains occurred at the end of July 2021 into the first week of August 2021,” he said.
He explained that the EL NINO Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is currently in its neutral phase with a possibility of a weak LA NINA development during the period October 2021 to January 2022.