Lake Victoria is the largest lake in Africa and the primary source of the Nile. Bordering Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, roughly economically support about 30 million people living near its shores. But, deadly intense thunderstorms build up on the lake at night as fishers go fishing. Deadly intense thunderstorms build up on the lake at night as fishers go fishing. The International Red Cross estimates that lose their lives in Lake Victoria’s violent storms.
Also listen to is Africa Investing enough in understanding its climate impacts for development?
For years, Lake Victoria lacked an effective early warning system to protect those who depend on it. Since about a year ago, Oremo Edward, the Homabay Beach management unit manager and fellow fishers started receiving text messages from Kenya met services after every six to twelve hours. The texts they still receive to date tell them how the lake weather will look the following day. It also advises them on if to go to the lake fishing or not.
Oremo told Africa climate conversations podcast that as climate change over time, the storms are becoming more unpredictable, violent, and rising water levels. How is this weather information has helped protect the fishermen’s lives? What are the challenges experienced monitoring this lake? how has climate change impacted tis lake and how is it projected to impact it in the future?