Accra, April 5, GNA - The rainfall being currently experienced in the country indicates the beginning of the major rainy season.

From this month, April 2008, till the end of June 2008, the country would have moderate and heavy rains which would often be accompanied by strong winds, thunder and lightening.

Mr. Amos Narh, senior meteorologist at the Meteorology Services Department, said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on Friday.

He said the rainy season, which would extend a little into the month of July, would break off briefly in August, untill the minor and final rainy season for the year begins around the month of September.

Touching on the potential of flooding in the country as a result of the season, Mr. Narh said poor drainage systems coupled with the inappropriate putting up of buildings had put a lot of pressure on land, making flooding during the major rainy season almost a matter of course.

Mr. Narh noted that modern day problems of flooding were basically man made, adding that the rainfall patterns of present times were the same as those in years past.

He said farmers within the southern part of the country could begin planting their crops, adding however, that it was advisable for those in the Northern Region to begin planting in May. Mr. Narh said this was because the rains were now mainly concentrated in the south, adding that heavy rains would typically set in up north from the month of May.

He gave some figures of last Monday's downpour as Accra: 41.2 millimeters, Tema: 56.5 millimeters, Kumasi: 35 milimeters, Ho: 52.1 millimeters, Sunyani: 20.3 millimeters and Koforidua: 9.9 millimeters. The rest were Yendi: 15.2 millimeters, Breman Asikuma: 50.4 millimeters, Half Asini:15.2 millimeters, Nkoranza: 22 milimeters and Saltpond: 9.2 millimeters.