Slow start to rainy season in southern Africa, flooding risks remain in Guatemala, Somalia, and Ethiopia
Africa Weather Hazards
Persistently below average rainfall since August over several bimodal areas of Côte d’Ivoire,
Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria has led to an increase in moisture deficits and a degradation of ground conditions, resulting in drought.Below-average rainfall since August has led to increased moisture deficits throughout several provinces in southern South Sudan and northern Uganda. Dry conditions stretch into Lake Victoria regions of western Kenya.
Poorly distributed rainfall has resulted in drought, which has severely impacted ground conditions and already led to livestock death across parts of north-central eastern Ethiopia.
Heavy rains over the last 2 weeks have led to swelling rivers in Somalia and Southern Ethiopia. The Shabelle River and the Jubba River are forecast to be near or above flood stage. Flood risk is high for the middle and lower reaches of the Shabelle and moderate for the lower portions of the Jubba River. Additional forecast rain threatens to exacerbate the situation, maintaining the risk for river and flash flooding.
Erratic and poorly distributed rainfall over the past month has led to early-season moisture deficits in the sugarcane growing region of South Africa. Vegetation indices reveal that ground conditions are already degrading.