Editing Geography of Zimbabwe (section)

== Weather hazards in Zimbabwe ==
[[Weather hazards]] are conditions which are unfavorable to people and their activities that result from weather phenomena, and include any naturally occurring weather condition that has the potential to cause harm to people.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hallett |first1=S. |title=Community Resilience to Extreme Weather - Final Report |url=http://www.landis.org.uk/downloads/downloads/CREW_Final_Report.pdf |website=LandIS |publisher=Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council |access-date=15 February 2025}}</ref> Most of these cannot be prevented however their effects can be mitigated. '''[[Zimbabwe]]''' is affected by various '''[[weather hazards]]''' including [[drought]]s, floods, heat wave, lightning and [[wildfire]]s over the past century. These weather hazards has affected a lot of people in Zimbabwe resulting to a number of deaths and other challenges.<ref>{{Cite web |title=World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal |url=https://climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org/country/zimbabwe |access-date=2023-03-25 |website=climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org |language=en}}</ref> Sixteen districts across six provinces [[Manicaland Province|Manicaland]], [[Mashonaland Central Province|Mashonaland Central]], [[Mashonaland West Province|Mashonaland West]], [[Mashonaland East Province|Mashonaland East]], [[Midlands]] and [[Matabeleland North Province|Matabeleland North]] in Zimbabwe have been affected by heavy rains and floods since the 2021/2022 rainy season began in October 2021. [[Tropical Storm Ana (2022)|Tropical Storm Ana]] brought heavy rains to Zimbabwe in late-January, causing floods and damage, affecting 845 houses and 51 schools.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Zimbabwe: Floods and Storms I Flash Update No. 1, 3 February 2022 - Zimbabwe {{!}} ReliefWeb |url=https://reliefweb.int/report/zimbabwe/zimbabwe-floods-and-storms-i-flash-update-no-1-3-february-2022 |access-date=2023-03-25 |website=reliefweb.int |date=4 February 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

=== Types of weather hazards that have affected Zimbabwe. ===
The main weather hazards that have affected Zimbabwe include:<ref>{{Cite web |title=World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal |url=https://climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org/ |access-date=2023-05-16 |website=climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org |language=en}}</ref>

* [[Drought]]
* [[Flood]]s
* [[Lightning]]
* [[Frost]]
* [[Frost|Heat wave]]
* [[Wildfire]]s<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-08-18 |title=8 Main Types of Weather Hazards {{!}} Meteorology |url=https://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/agrometeorology/8-main-types-of-weather-hazards-meteorology/88869 |access-date=2023-03-25 |website=Your Article Library |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Drought ===
[[File:Near_Kariba.jpg|thumb|Climate and Weather near Kariba in Zimbabwe]]
[[Drought]] has to do with a period of abnormally [[Arid|dry weather]] which is caused little or no [[rainfall]] producing a lack of [[water]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=US Department of Commerce |first=NOAA |title=What is meant by the term drought? |url=https://www.weather.gov/bmx/kidscorner_drought |access-date=2023-03-25 |website=www.weather.gov |language=EN-US}}</ref>

==== Effects of Drought in Zimbabwe ====
In Zimbabwe droughts carry many effects which include factors leading to economic struggles. [[Inflation]] rates go up as farmers undergo crop failure and loss of [[livestock]] a well as often [[wildfire]]s. Due to drought the country is faced with serious [[Water scarcity|water shortages]] as well as outrageous [[Power outage|power cuts]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=garikaib |date=2023-01-24 |title=Floods |url=https://revision.co.zw/floods/ |access-date=2023-03-25 |website=Free ZIMSEC & Cambridge Revision Notes |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==== Mitigation ====
To limit the effects of drought the country can make use of cloud seeding, stocking of harvest in GMBs during fruitful years and/or practice irrigation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=garikaib |date=2023-01-24 |title=Drought |url=https://revision.co.zw/drought/ |access-date=2023-03-25 |website=Free ZIMSEC & Cambridge Revision Notes |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Building and servicing dams and rivers that are no longer serving their purpose<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-15 |title=Ongoing Projects - Zinwa |url=http://zinwa.co.zw/ongoing-projects/ |access-date=2023-04-03 |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Floods ===
[[Flood]]ing refer to an abnormal overflow of a large amount of water beyond its normal limits, especially over what is normally [[Drylands]]. These are caused by abnormal rainfall and [[cyclone]]s.<ref>{{Citation |last=Obeng-Odoom |first=Franklin |title=The Promised Land |date=2021-12-09 |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198867180.003.0010 |work=Global Migration beyond Limits |pages=250–255 |access-date=2023-03-25 |publisher=Oxford University Press|doi=10.1093/oso/9780198867180.003.0010 |isbn=978-0-19-886718-0 }}</ref>

==== Effects of Floods in Zimbabwe ====
The primary effects of flooding include loss of life and damage to buildings and other structures, including bridges, [[Sewerage|sewerage systems]], roadways, and canals. Floods also frequently damage power transmission and sometimes power generation. As a common after-effect of severe flooding, Zimbabwe has also faced economic hardship due to a temporary decline in [[tourism]], rebuilding costs, or food shortages leading to price increases.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Floods - Causes and Effects of Flooding {{!}} Flood Protection |url=https://www.english-online.at/geography/floods/floods-and-flooding.htm |access-date=2023-03-25 |website=www.english-online.at}}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Newsday |first=The Standard and |title=Cyclone Ana hits Zim |url=https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/15080/cyclone-ana-hits-zim |access-date=2023-03-25 |website=NewsDay |language=en}}</ref>

==== Mitigation ====
In January 2022 the country's Department of Civil Protection (DCP) set up 394 evacuation centers in Manicaland province to deal with the impact of [[Cyclone Ana]]. This was the government's way of limiting the effects of the floods as it was noted that parts of Mutasa and [[Chimanimani District|Chimanimani districts]] were already receiving strong winds and heavy rains associated with the storm.<ref>{{Cite web |title=5 Cyclones To Hit Zimbabwe – ZimEye |url=https://www.zimeye.net/2022/12/10/5-cyclones-to-hit-zimbabwe/ |access-date=2023-03-25 |language=en-US}}</ref> Another way of mitigating the effects of flooding is relocating people before during and after the floods and ensuring that everyone is at safe place when the cyclone hits the area. This is seen in Zimbabwe where the authorities announced that school children from the most vulnerable areas should not go to school but stay home on the days when [[cyclone Freddy]] was expected.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cyclone Freddy: Schools Shut – ZimEye |url=https://www.zimeye.net/2023/02/23/cyclone-freddy-schools-shut/ |access-date=2023-03-27 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Chronicle |first=The |title=Cyclone Freddy: Schools to remain closed until Tuesday |url=https://www.chronicle.co.zw/cyclone-freddy-schools-to-remain-closed-until-tuesday/ |access-date=2023-03-27 |website=The Chronicle |date=24 February 2023 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

=== Lightning ===
[[File:Lightening strike.jpg|thumb|Lightning ]]
[[Lightning]] is associated with weather patterns whereby there is a natural [[Electric discharge|electrical discharge]] from the [[cloud]]s which occurs for a very short period and it heats the ground or earth, it is usually accompanied by a bright flash and typical thunder. Lightning may damage a lot of things and may is dangerous to livelihood.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Definition of lightning {{!}} Dictionary.com |url=https://www.dictionary.com/browse/lightning |access-date=2023-03-27 |website=www.dictionary.com |language=en}}</ref>

==== Effects of lightning in Zimbabwe ====
Lightning is very harmful; it affects both livelihood as well as the [[infrastructure]]. A number of people have been hospitalized and some died due to the effects of lightning this is evidenced when lightning bolt struck and wounded 13 male [[prisoner]]s while they were having lunch at a jail in northwestern Zimbabwe,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lightning strikes 13 Zimbabwe prisoners having lunch |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/africa/news/lightning-strikes-13-zimbabwe-prisoners-having-lunch-20211123 |access-date=2023-03-27 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}</ref> and in some areas especially [[Game Park|game parks]] a number of animals have died due to lightning.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lightning turns rainy season into a nightmare – Zimbabwe Situation |url=https://www.zimbabwesituation.com/news/lightning-turns-rainy-season-into-a-nightmare/ |access-date=2023-03-27 |language=en-US}}</ref> Lightning also has a record of destroying infrastructure, one family in Beitbridge were left stranded as they lost their home to lightning.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lightning strikes huts in Siyoka – Zimbabwe Situation |url=https://www.zimbabwesituation.com/news/lightning-strikes-huts-in-siyoka/ |access-date=2023-03-27 |language=en-US}}</ref>

==== Mitigation ====
To prevent and reduce the effects of lightning people are advised to avoid open spaces as well as standing under tall trees and to ensure that buildings have lightning protection.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lightning |url=https://palmer.co.zw/electrical/lightning/ |access-date=2023-03-27 |website=Palmer Construction Zimbabwe |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Frost ===
[[Frost]] occurs when weather patterns changes causing a deposit of small white ice crystals formed on the ground, windows, cars or other open surfaces when the temperature falls below freezing<ref>{{Cite web |title=frost |url=https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/frost |access-date=2023-03-27 |website=education.nationalgeographic.org |language=en}}</ref>

==== Effects of Frost in Zimbabwe ====
In 2021 Zimbabwe Farmers Union director Paul Zakariya confirmed to herald that a number of farmers are affected by frost as he said they had received numerous reports of [[ground frost]] that had affected several [[crop]]s across the Zimbabwean growers hit by frosty conditions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Several Zimbabwean growers hit by frosty conditions |url=https://www.freshplaza.com/africa/article/9336859/several-zimbabwean-growers-hit-by-frosty-conditions/ |access-date=2023-03-27 |website=www.freshplaza.com |language=EN}}</ref> In some areas like [[Matobo District|Matobo]] wear frost often hits people are always affected by frostbites as they would have been affected by the cold.

==== Mitigation ====
[[Agriculture]] expert Mr Ivan Craig encouraged [[farmer]]s to reduce damage of crop to frost by growing crops that are less susceptible to frost in winter these are onion, peas, garlic, cauliflower, broccoli, carrot and winter cabbage among others. People who are in areas always affected by frost are encouraged to keep warm all the time to avoid developing [[frostbite]]s. Farmers could also construct a wall of [[Thatchgrass|thatch grass]] around the garden or burn [[cow dung]] around the field as this will help trap frost when it comes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Farmers advised on frost – Zimbabwe Situation |url=https://www.zimbabwesituation.com/news/farmers-advised-on-frost/ |access-date=2023-03-27 |language=en-US}}</ref>