DFO 2004-019

Flooding: 2/1/04 - 6/2/04

Zambezi and Okavango Rivers

Namibia, Zambia, Angola and Botswana

Detailed Locations:
Namibia - Kavango and Caprivi regions. Rundu area. Constituencies: Linyanti, Sangwali, Kabbe, Katima, Linyandi and Kongola. Muzii, Nankuntwe, Nakabolelwa, Ihaha and Schuckmannsburg. Katima Mulilo area.
Zambia - North-Western Province - west bank of Zambezi river. districts: Senanga, Kalabo, Mongu, Lukulu, Zambezi, Chavuma, Kalabo, Mongu.
Upper Zambezi River wetlands in Moxico and Cuando Cubango in Angola and North Western and Western Zambia.
Northern Botswana - Okavango delta. Ngamiland province. Shakawe to Gumare.

Rivers:
Okovango (Kavango), Zambezi and tributaries, Cuando.

 
Dead: 8 Displaced: 20,000 Damages: no data Affected Region ( sq km): 596,100 Severity Class* : 2 Flood Magnitude**: 74.3 MODIS flood inundation limit file names***:
20041300835KafueCap019M2b2
20041050840Capriv019M2b2
20041030850Zamb019M2b2
20041011150CapKaf019Ma2b2
20041000820Capriv019M2c
20040901205Capri019Ma2b2
20040820835Caprivi019M2c
20040460900Okava019M2c
20040370905ZamOka019M2c
Comments:
Heavy rains since January in southeast Angola and Namibia.
February 26 - Okavango river at highest levels since 1984. Thousands of square kilometers submerged in Botswana.
April 1 - Zambezi river burst banks along eastern border of Caprivi strip, Namibia.
"Authorities said the floods were the worst since 1958" in northeastern Caprivi
April 4 - Zambezi river at 7.05 meters at Katima Mulilo.
MODIS observations of seasonal high levels on the upper Zambezi river and tributaries begin in late January in Northwestern Zambia and Moxico, Angola. High water reaches Mongu, Zambia area by February 3. Additional observations of flooding along the Zambezi on February 4, 8, 9, 10, 13, 18, 24, 25, March 2, 5, 6, 11, 12, 14, 18, 20, 21, 23, 27, 30, April 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 21, 22, 26, 29, 30, May 5, 7. Flooding along upper Zambezi and Mongu area largely receded by May 23.
MODIS observations of high levels on the Okavango river on January 26, February 1, 2, 6, 8, 10, 15, 16, 24, 25, March 2, 11, 12, 20, 27, April 6, 12, 17, 21, 26, 28, 29, 30, May 6, 7.
Caprivi Strip area begins to be wet on March 5, 9, 11, 12, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 30, 31, April 6, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, 26, 28, 29, 30,
May 1, 3, 7, 9. Flooding less in Caprivi strip area on May 23.
Above - closeup map of Caprivi Strip area. Below - Kafue Flats area in Southern Zambia.

 

Map preparation and image analysis: Elaine Anderson

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