Staff reporter

The few drops that fell in Swakopmund on Monday evening increased slightly on Tuesday evening and finally, around 8:15 p.m. Wednesday, the sky opened up over the Namib Desert with pouring rain until about 9:30 p.m.

Salty streets, in particular, were a mess on Thursday, with motorists stepping on the pedal creating jets of water through puddles or skidding through mud.

Early in the morning, Gershon Tjongarero and Stefanus Shiehama were “building a dam wall” in Makriel Street, Vineta district, to prevent rivers from flowing into the courtyards.

Many Mondesa residents had to leave their ghettos and shacks due to leaking roofs and other structures, seeking refuge with friends and family on drier ground.

Mondesa resident Patrick Mayira, originally from Rundu, was one of the lucky ones spared from the water damage. “This Swakop time is not quite Rundu time,” he said.

It also rained in Henties Bay and Walvis Bay on Wednesday. Vogelfederberg recorded 8.2mm of rain and Wlotzkasbaken, approximately halfway between Swakopmund and Henties Bay, recorded 6.7mm.

The gift of water was not limited to Erongo.

According to the latest rainfall figures from the Meteorological Service of Namibia, many parts of the country have seen good rainfall.

In the Khomas region, the National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) Windhoek recorded 32.3mm of rain, Windhoek headquarters 18.8mm, while Okahandja received 10.8mm and Claratal Farm, located 42 km southwest of the capital, recorded 31.9 millimeters.

In the Oshana region, Ondangwa recorded 29mm, and Okaukuejo, located 17 km from the southern entrance to Etosha National Park, received 2.6mm.

Omaheke capital Gobabis recorded 12mm of rain and Grootfontein in Otjozondjupa region recorded 22.6mm.
Coastal Met recorded 5.4mm of rain and Gondwana’s Diep River Namib Desert Lodge, located 60km north of Sesriem in the Hardap region, recorded 5.2mm of rain.

In the Kunene region, Outjo recorded 7.6mm and the region’s automated weather station, Mopanie Pos, recorded 4.6mm. Additionally, the Namib Desert’s automated weather station, Marble Koppie, recorded 16.1mm.

Good rainfall was also reported in Tsumeb. According to Maria Davids, this has led to flooded streets and “people seeking new paths to avoid walking through puddles”.