HARMATTAN SEASON WILL PROLONG

A Principal Meteorologist at the Meteorological Services Department in Accra, Mr. George Ato Wilson, says this year's rainfall is likely to delay as a result of the late onset of the harmattan. According to him, the rainfall season, which starts in February, might delay for about a month in areas like Half Assini and Axim, which normally experience early rains. Mr. Wilson was speaking to newsmen at the Airport on the late onset of he harmattan and its effect on the rainfall pattern in the country. He described this year's harmattan as very severe with low relative humidity value of about two percent and can be compared to that of 1983. He could not, however, tell how long it will persist. Mr. Wilson said with the steady and fresh wind accompanying the harmattan, there is the high risk of bush fires and, therefore cautioned against the indiscriminate setting of fire, because it will be very difficult to control. For this reason, he appealed to the National Fire Service to intensify its education on bush fires and also warned motorists not to overspeed since the poor visibility can cause accidents. gri