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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, closing the period under review at 1,763m3/s as of 9th February 2026, whilst last year on the same date it was lower at 696m3/s.

From:
27 January 2026
To:
9 February 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2024/25)Flow (m3/s)(2023/24)
27-Jan738197
28-Jan750220
29-Jan775237
30-Jan788257
31-Jan809263
1-Feb837286
2-Feb872339
3-Feb909365
4-Feb1,053401
5-Feb1,175438
6-Feb1,354494
7-Feb1,508561
8-Feb1,612631
9-Feb1,763696

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 895m3/s as of 9th February 2026. The flow recorded last year on the same date was lower at 586m3/s.

From:
27 January 2026
To:
9 February 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2024/25)Flow (m3/s)(2023/24)
27-Jan766517
28-Jan766528
29-Jan796525
30-Jan801529
31-Jan818525
1-Feb850528
2-Feb826534
3-Feb833545
4-Feb841553
5-Feb850556
6-Feb857562
7-Feb867572
8-Feb896582
9-Feb895586

Victoria Falls (Nana’s Farm Station)

The Zambezi River flows at Victoria Falls – Nana’s Farm Station are decreasing due to reduction in rainfall activity around the catchment of interest, closing the period under review at 842m3/s as of 9th February 2026.  The flow observed on the same date last year was lower at 542m3/s.

From:
27 January 2026
To:
9 February 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2024/25)Flow (m3/s)(2023/24)
27-Jan854548
28-Jan871566
29-Jan881574
30-Jan881576
31-Jan882570
1-Feb884559
2-Feb882546
3-Feb881535
4-Feb877544
5-Feb867542
6-Feb856544
7-Feb846546
8-Feb853544
9-Feb842542