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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 steadily increasing and are lower than what was recorded last year.  The flows closed the period under review at 897m3/s on 22nd April 2024 whilst last year on the same date it was 2,146m3/s.

From:
9 April 2024
To:
22 April 2024
DateFlow (m3/s)(2023/24)Flow (m3/s)(2022/23)
9-Apr5242,548
10-Apr5502,595
11-Apr5852,603
12-Apr6142,586
13-Apr6462,574
14-Apr6772,586
15-Apr7172,614
16-Apr7362,597
17-Apr7642,565
18-Apr7892,485
19-Apr8162,430
20-Apr8392,328
21-Apr8652,235
22-Apr8972,146
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 decreasing with records of fluctuations being observed, closing the period under review at 694m3/s on 22nd April 2024. The flow observed on the same date last year was 1,899m3/s.

From:
9 April 2024
To:
22 April 2024
DateFlow (m3/s)(2023/24)Flow (m3/s)(2022/23)
9-Apr7162,114
10-Apr6942,086
11-Apr7042,069
12-Apr7032,052
13-Apr7072,031
14-Apr7042,019
15-Apr7042,000
16-Apr7001,979
17-Apr6951,967
18-Apr6941,948
19-Apr6971,938
20-Apr6971,924
21-Apr6951,913
22-Apr6941,899
nana

Ngonye

Flows at Ngonye have been increasing steadily with records of fluctuations, closing the period under review at 788m3/s on 22nd April 2024. The flow recorded last year on the same date was 1,950m3/s.

From:
9 April 2024
To:
22 April 2024
DateFlow (m3/s)(2023/24)Flow (m3/s)(2022/23)
9-Apr7551,925
10-Apr7631,902
11-Apr7771,899
12-Apr7771,893
13-Apr7681,887
14-Apr7711,878
15-Apr7831,872
16-Apr7711,872
17-Apr7831,872
18-Apr7831,878
19-Apr7821,893
20-Apr7821,906
21-Apr7931,923
22-Apr7881,950
ngonye

Victoria Falls/Big Tree

The Zambezi River flows at Victoria Falls are decreasing with records of fluctuation being observed, closing the period under review at 694m3/s on 22nd April 2024.  The flow observed on the same date last year was 1,899m3/s.

From:
9 April 2024
To:
22 April 2024
DateFlow (m3/s)(2023/24)Flow (m3/s)(2022/23)
9-Apr7162,114
10-Apr6942,086
11-Apr7042,069
12-Apr7032,052
13-Apr7072,031
14-Apr7042,019
15-Apr7042,000
16-Apr7001,979
17-Apr6951,967
18-Apr6941,948
19-Apr6971,938
20-Apr6971,924
21-Apr6951,913
22-Apr6941,899
vic-falls