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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 increasing as the rainfall season progresses, closing the period under review at 3,592m3/s as of 16th March 2026, whilst last year on the same date it was lower at 2,073m3/s.

From:
3 March 2026
To:
16 March 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
3-Mar2,8102,039
4-Mar2,8252,062
5-Mar2,9182,078
6-Mar2,9692,085
7-Mar2,9472,076
8-Mar2,9342,086
9-Mar2,9492,089
10-Mar3,0582,088
11-Mar3,1222,026
12-Mar3,1702,018
13-Mar3,1801,998
14-Mar3,1641,972
15-Mar3,2982,023
16-Mar3,5922,073

Ngonye

Flows at Ngonye are increasing, closing the period under review at 4,160m3/s as of 16th March 2026. The flow recorded last year on the same date was lower at 1,804m3/s.

From:
3 March 2026
To:
16 March 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
3-Mar2,232890
4-Mar2,536926
5-Mar2,871946
6-Mar3,289973
7-Mar3,6921,007
8-Mar3,9831,023
9-Mar4,1171,083
10-Mar4,1011,122
11-Mar4,0871,194
12-Mar4,0711,285
13-Mar4,0631,400
14-Mar4,0871,522
15-Mar4,1091,665
16-Mar4,1601,804

Victoria Falls (Nana’s Farm Station)

The Zambezi River flows at Victoria Falls – Nana’s Farm Station are increasing as rainfall season progresses, closing the period under review at 3,061m3/s as of 16th March 2026.  The flow observed on the same date last year was lower at 965m3/s.

From:
3 March 2026
To:
16 March 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
3-Mar1,228769
4-Mar1,421787
5-Mar1,323805
6-Mar1,357822
7-Mar1,397836
8-Mar1,462845
9-Mar1,540856
10-Mar1,645871
11-Mar1,800879
12-Mar2,023888
13-Mar2,281903
14-Mar2,544925
15-Mar2,787942
16-Mar3,061965