General News of Tuesday, 21 April 1998

Source: --

Met Office says El Nino weather effect is weakening.

The Meteorological Services Department says the El Nino weather effect which causes excessive rainfalls in some parts of the world and drought in others is weakening as a result of decreasing sea surface temperatures in the eastern pacific ocean. A senior meteorologist Mr. Kwao Wurodu said this development has given rise to some moisture penetrating over the country. This situation, according to him would cause unsettling weather with showers, thunderstorms and occasional rainstorms and strong winds. He said the coastal area, which has already experienced deficit in rainfalls, would get 40 to 50 percent of its usual rains. The middle belt that is Brong Ahafo, Ashanti and parts of the Volta Regions are however experiencing normal rains and would continue to experience normal rains in May. The outlook for Northern and Upper regions in May is that of scattered showers and thunderstorms with sunny breaks. The present situation, according to the meteorologist, compares to the harsh conditions in 1983 but the good news is that the large scale food producing areas of Brong Ahafo, Ashanti, and Northern Volta, that fall within the catchment area of the Akosombo dam would experience normal rainfalls.