A Principal Meteorologist at the Ghana Meteorological Agency, Mr. Kwame Ofori Agyeman, has cautioned farmers in the Ashanti Region not to interpret the recent rains in March as the start of the major rainy season.
Speaking in an interview with Opemsuo Radio’s Kofi Boakye on Nkwantannanso, Mr. Ofori Agyeman explained that rainfall in March is usually irregular and does not provide reliable conditions for farming activities.
“Last year, in March 2025, Kumasi recorded rainfall on only about eight days throughout the entire month. Normally, March is not a period characterized by heavy or continuous rainfall. In fact, it is one of the hottest months of the year,” he said.
Mr. Ofori Agyeman noted that rainfall during this period is largely influenced by intense heat from the sun, which drives the processes that lead to cloud formation and precipitation.
According to him, when the sun heats the earth’s surface, moisture evaporates into the atmosphere where it gathers in clouds and may eventually fall as rain. However, he explained that the moisture does not always return to the ground immediately.
“Sometimes the moisture dissipates before it can fall as rain, while at other times it remains in the clouds for longer periods. When it eventually falls, it often comes down heavily. This explains why the Ashanti Region occasionally experiences sudden heavy downpours in March,” he explained.
Despite these occasional downpours, the meteorologist stressed that farmers should not rely on March rainfall for planting since it occurs on only a few days within the month.
“For farmers in the Ashanti Region, it is not advisable to begin planting in early March. Out of the 31 days in March, the region may only experience rainfall on about seven or eight days, which is not sufficient for consistent farming activities,” he stated.
He therefore advised farmers to wait until the latter part of the month when rainfall begins to strengthen and become more stable. According to him, the last week of March signals the transition into a more reliable rainy period that extends into April.
Mr. Ofori Agyeman also pointed out that rainfall during this period rarely occurs in the morning but is more likely in the evening due to the heating process that builds up throughout the day. He added that thunderstorms and lightning are common weather conditions that often accompany these rains.
He further noted that while the Ashanti Region is yet to enter its stable rainy season, some areas along the east coast of Ghana have already begun experiencing consistent rains.
Source:
opemsuo.com