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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 increasing slowly, as the rainy season progresses, closing the period under review at 410m3/s on 8th January 2024. The flow recorded last year on the same date was 643m3/s.

From:
26 December 2023
To:
8 January 2024
DateFlow (m3/s)(2022/23)Flow (m3/s)(2021/22)
26-Dec311270
27-Dec324337
28-Dec326365
29-Dec327398
30-Dec332413
31-Dec343433
1-Jan350489
2-Jan367538
3-Jan370571
4-Jan378590
5-Jan382605
6-Jan385621
7-Jan395637
8-Jan410643
chavuma

Nana's Farm

The Zambezi River flows at Nana’s Farm, located some 33km upstream of Victoria Falls (typically the same reach) are steadily rising due to local rainfall activity, closing the period under review at 531m3/s on 8th January 2024. The flow observed on the same date last year was also 564m3/s.

From:
26 December 2023
To:
8 January 2024
DateFlow (m3/s)(2022/23)Flow (m3/s)(2021/22)
26-Dec457476
27-Dec472482
28-Dec482483
29-Dec481487
30-Dec486492
31-Dec490499
1-Jan492502
2-Jan500521
3-Jan504530
4-Jan509525
5-Jan515534
6-Jan525536
7-Jan527586
8-Jan531564
nana

Ngonye

Flows at Ngonye are steadily rising, with records of isolated fluctuations due to rainfall activity within the catchment of interest, closing the period under review at 629m3/s on 8th January 2024. The flow recorded last year on the same date was 624m3/s.

From:
26 December 2023
To:
8 January 2024
DateFlow (m3/s)(2022/23)Flow (m3/s)(2021/22)
26-Dec525541
27-Dec534545
28-Dec529552
29-Dec534553
30-Dec541560
31-Dec552563
1-Jan560569
2-Jan570584
3-Jan582587
4-Jan586596
5-Jan594600
6-Jan616610
7-Jan616613
8-Jan629624
ngonye

Victoria Falls/Big Tree

The Zambezi River flows at Victoria Falls are increasing steadily due to localised rainfall activity, closing the period under review at 531m3/s on 8th January 2024.  The flow observed on the same date last year was 564m3/s.

From:
26 December 2023
To:
8 January 2024
DateFlow (m3/s)(2022/23)Flow (m3/s)(2021/22)
26-Dec457476
27-Dec472482
28-Dec482483
29-Dec481487
30-Dec486492
31-Dec490499
1-Jan492502
2-Jan500521
3-Jan504530
4-Jan509525
5-Jan515534
6-Jan525536
7-Jan527586
8-Jan531564
vic-falls