ReliefWeb

Lighter, but well distributed rains received across much of southern Africa

Africa Weather Hazards

1. Since December, increased locust numbers and breeding have been reported in western Mauritania, Western Sahara, and northeastern Sudan according to the Food and Agriculture Organization.

2. Below-average and erratic rainfall over the past has resulted in strong moisture deficits, degraded ground conditions, and poor crop prospects across many parts of Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, bimodal and unimodal areas of Tanzania. Seasonal rainfall has failed to increase throughout portions of northern Mozambique.

3. Several consecutive weeks of poor rainfall has strengthened moisture deficits, resulting in abnormal dryness and drought conditions in eastern and northern Madagascar. However, the development of tropical cyclone over the Indian Ocean may bring increased rainfall amounts along the eastern coastline towards the later portion of the outlook period.

4. Since late December, enhanced seasonal rainfall has resulted in large moisture surpluses and several localized floods. With wet conditions in place, risk remains high for additional floods throughout Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia and the Caprivi Strip region. Rapidly rising river levels have been reported along the Limpopo, Save, Buzi, Pungue, and Zambezi Rivers due to heavy rains upstream and downstream.

5. A prolonged mid-season dry spell since late December has led to strengthening moisture deficits and deteriorating ground conditions across many parts of southwestern Angola and northwestern Namibia.