The Meteorological Service Department is predicting thunderstorms and heavy rains as the country moves into the raining season.

A few nights ago, a downpour wreaked havoc in parts of the country, injuring some people and destroying property.

Earlier the Department clarified that rainfall experienced last month in the Southern part of the country did not yet indicate the beginning of the rainy season.

But, in an interview with Citi News, Head of Forecasting at the Meteorological Service Department, Joseph Portuphy said  Ghanaians should brace themselves for more rainfall in the middle belt and coastal areas.

“We are now in the rainy season, so definitely we should be expecting more of this. Especially those of us in the middle part of the country- the forest zone. Every three days we should be expecting more rains. Those along the coastal areas should also expect rains every five to six days.”

“It will also depend on the type of rain that is coming. If is a convective rain, then definitely there will be a lot of thunderstorm and strong winds in it. If you look at how the sun is shinning, there is a lot of energy in the atmosphere and coupled with that it will give us strong wings with thunderstorms and heavy rains”, he warned.

Recent rain storm destruction  in Kumasi

Last week, a storm caused significant disruption in Kumasi. There were incidents of flooding in the metropolis during which a huge billboard collapsed and trapped some people in a vehicle.

One person was trapped in his vehicle after a giant billboard fell on it at Afful-Nkwanta in Kumasi during the downpour.

Eyewitnesses sad two people — the wife and child of the trapped victim — were rescued and rushed to the hospital.

The downpour also caused a total blackout in the city.

AMA begins desilting drains ahead of rainy season to prevent flooding

Meanwhile, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) is working to minimize the impact of perennial floods in the Accra metropolis.

It has begun desilting storm drains ahead of the rainy season to prevent flooding.

Public Relations Officer for the AMA, Gilbert Ankrah says his outfit is adequately prepared to avert such incidents.

“Currently the Odaw stream going all the way to the Korle is going to be desilted from next week. The main reason why that has delayed a bit is the illegal structures that have sprung around that very enclave. But we have given them notices and clearing have begun. But assurances are that from next week, we are going to do that work. All the other areas within the Assembly are also going to see such desilting.”

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By: Nii Larte Lartey & Caleb Kudah | citinewsroom.com | Ghana