Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA) has said that most parts of the country are set to receive above normal to normal rains during the seasonal which is expected to be influenced by El-Nino conditions.

The season is specifically for areas that receives rains twice a year which includes regions in North Eastern Highlands and few areas of Eastern part of Lake Victoria basin.

The regions are Kagera, Geita, Mwanza, Shinyanga, southern part of Simiyu, northern part of Kigoma, Dar es Salaam, Tanga, Pwani (including Mafia Island), northern part of Morogoro regions together with the isles of Unguja and Pemba.

However, normal to Above Normal rains are anticipated in Mara, northern part of Simiyu region, Arusha, Manyara and Kilimanjaro regions.

TMA acting Director General Dr. Ladislaus Chang’a was speaking at a press briefing to release the seasonal rainfall outlook for October to December.

Dr Chang'a who is also the Vice Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said due to the presence of El-Niño, occasional rainy periods are expected in September, 2023 in some areas of the country.

However, the seasonal rains are expected to officially start in October, 2023 in many areas.

“The rains are expected to start in fourth week of September to first week of October, 2023 over Kagera region and spreading to other areas during the second week of October, 2023" said Dr Chang'a.

He said the seasonal rains are expected to continue through to January, 2024

Usually the October rains are specific to areas of the northeastern highlands (Arusha, Manyara and Kilimanjaro regions), northern coast (northern part of Morogoro region, Pwani (including Mafia Isles), Dar es Salaam and Tanga.

Other regions are Unguja and Pemba isles), Lake Victoria basin (Kagera, Geita, Mwanza, Shinyanga, Simiyu and Mara regions) and the northern part of Kigoma region.