Meteo Forecasts Normal-to-above-normal Rains

The Meteorological Services Department (MSD) said on Thursday that it expects normal-to-above-normal rains this season.

The major rainy season for agricultural production will begin from March 9 to 16, the acting Director, Mr Franklin P. Mote, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview.

He said the first major rains are expected in the Zone "A", comprising Western, Central, Ashanti and Eastern regions. Parts of Volta region, from Ho south to Akatsi are also included in this zone, he said.

The seasonal forecast for the zone is normal to above normal. Mr Mote said the onset of rains for Zone "B", the south-eastern part, starting from Cape Coast through Accra Plains to Keta, should be expected from March 16 to 28. The seasonal forecast should be normal.

He said farmers around the middle belt, or the area called the Zone "C" will have rains around the same time as the Accra Plains but the forecast in the zone is normal to above normal. The northern part of the country in Zone " D", comprising the three northern regions should expect rains for planting to start between April 22 and 29, he said. The forecast is normal. Mr Mote said all the rainfall onset dates could be plus or minus 10 days.

He added: "there would be some precipitation before these periods, which cannot be used for planting."