SHINYANGA: THE Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA) has issued a heat advisory urging the public to monitor weather updates as several regions experience unusually high temperatures, with one station recording a 4.2°C anomaly above the long-term average.
The temperature spike is primarily attributed to the current movement of the overhead Sun combined with reduced rainfall.
TMA records confirm that the heat is exceptional, particularly the reading from the Moshi station in Kilimanjaro, which reported 35.7°C on November 21st, a significant 4.2°C anomaly above the long-term average for November.
Ilonga in Morogoro recorded 35.5°C on November 20, while Morogoro town registered 34.5°C on November 26.
In Shinyanga, Ibadakuli station recorded 33.6°C on November 14 and Dar es Salaam experienced 33.2°C on both November 19 and 21.
TMA experts link the heat to the solar movement, explaining that the Earth’s surface in these areas naturally registers higher temperatures as the overhead Sun peaked at the end of November, moving south toward the Tropic of Capricorn.
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The authority also noted that high humidity, especially along coastal areas due to ocean evaporation, has intensified the way the heat is perceived.
In light of the extreme heat, the TMA has advised the public to regularly monitor weather updates, heed severe weather warnings, and seek guidance from relevant sectors to minimise associated health and environmental risks.
Looking ahead, the authority expects intervals of rainfall across many parts of the country in December.
This precipitation is likely to help cool temperatures, especially in regions with bimodal rainfall patterns.
The public should be aware that the overhead Sun will peak again in February when it begins its movement north toward the Tropic of Cancer, potentially causing another temperature rise