Rare Winter Weather: Cut-off Lows and Unusual Precipitation in Zimbabwe

In Zimbabwe, winter is typically a dry season with little to no rainfall. However, on rare occasions, heavy rain or thunderstorms can occur. These unusual weather events are often caused by a localized circulation of moisture known as "cut-off lows," which develop high up in the atmosphere. These cut-off lows can create conditions that are conducive to precipitation, even during the typically dry winter months.

During winter, the upper atmosphere in Zimbabwe is below freezing because temperature decreases with height. As a result, the moisture associated with cut-off lows falls not as rain but as freezing rain or hail. This phenomenon occurs because the cold temperatures at higher altitudes cause the precipitation to freeze before reaching the ground. Such weather events are rare but can have significant impacts, including damage to crops and property due to the hail or freezing rain.