Rains expected in May and June as El-Nino's power weakens

Ghana is expected to have between 70 per cent of normal rainfall and above normal rains in May and June as the El-Nino weather phenomenon, which has caused widespread dry weather, weakens. The Meteorological Services Department (MSD) said in its rainfall forecast for May and June released that fresh moisture-laden south-westerly winds continue to penetrate inland into the West African sub-region to a depth of 1,500 metres. It said the coastal belt will have near normal rainfall in May. The coast will have unsettled weather with showers or thunderstorms and occasional rainstorms with winds of up to 70 kilometres per hour. The middle belt will have frequent to widespread rainstorms with maximum windspeed of up to 80 kilometres per hour. It will have normal to above normal rains. The Northern and Upper regions will have a warm to hot weather with few to scattered showers or thunderstorms. The rainfall is expected to be about 70 per cent of the normal quantity. In its outlook for June, the Department said the monsoon rains are likely to start by the 15th of the month in the coastal belt, which is expected to receive near normal rains. The middle belt will have frequent showers and thunderstorms and normal to above normal rains. The Northern and Upper regions will have scattered showers with occasional rainstorms. The area is expected to have 70 to 80 per cent of normal rainfall. El Nino, which has led to widespread floods in some parts of the world, has caused widespread drought in West Africa. Its biggest effects in Ghana are crop failures, especially in the northern regions, the low water level in the Akosombo dam, leading to severe electricity crisis and high temperatures.