The first four days of May are critical, with very heavy rainfall expected in some parts of the country, Rwanda Meteorology Agency announced on Monday, April 29.

This comes shortly after authorities in Kigali urged people living in high-risk zones to relocate, to keep out of harm's way. A mother and her child died in Kigali - in Bumbogo Sector, Gasabo District - when their family house collapsed during a heavy downpour over the past weekend. In the first week of May, last year, the floods and landslides that hit Western and Northern provinces killed 135 people, leaving 20,326 people homeless.

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Above normal rainfall ranging between 40 and 200 millimetres is expected across the country. As noted, this is way above the usual long-term average which previously varied between 30 and 100 millimetres.

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"Impacts associated with heavy and accumulated rains are likely to occur in many parts of the country especially in Northern, Western and Southern Provinces mainly between May 1 and May 4, 2024. Likely impacts are flooding, poor visibility during rainstorms, soil erosion and landslides in areas of high slopes and without erosion control measures,” the weather forecaster warned.

It said preparedness and mitigation measures should be put in place by relevant authorities and the public to minimize negative impacts that may be caused by the expected rains.

Rainfall ranging between 160 and 200 millimetres is the highest expected over many parts of Burera, Musanze, Nyabihu, Ngororero, Rutsiro, and few areas of Gakenke, Rubavu, Rusizi, Nyamasheke, Nyamagabe and Nyaruguru districts.

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Rainfall ranging between 140 and 160 millimetres is expected in the remaining parts of Western Province, Burera and Musanze Districts, in parts of Gakenke, Nyamagabe and Nyaruguru Districts, and northern parts of Muhanga District.

The rainfall ranging between 40 and 60 millimetres is the lowest amount expected over eastern parts of Nyagatare, Kayonza, Gatsibo and Kirehe Districts.

The City of Kigali, Rulindo, and Gicumbi Districts, and the remaining parts of Eastern and Southern Provinces are expected to experience high rains ranging between 60 and 140 millimetres.

Moderate to slightly strong wind speed ranging between four and eight metres per second is expected across the country.

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Moderate wind speed ranging between four and six metres per second is expected in many parts of the country except for parts of Nyagatare, Gatsibo, Nyabihu, Rubavu, Rutsiro, Karongi, Nyamagabe, and Rusizi Districts, where moderate to slightly strong wind ranging between six and eight metres per second is expected.