Heavy rainfall forecast for flood-affected areas of West Africa
Africa Weather Hazards
A slightly delayed start to the season has resulted in abnormal dryness for Gambia and central areas of Senegal. Dry ground conditions have reportedly led to delayed planting and have negatively impacted the health of livestock.
Heavy downpours have caused flooding and fatalities in Conakry, Guinea during the past week. Torrential rain is forecast to continue during the next week, which could worsen conditions on the grounds.
In bimodal regions of southern Ghana, Togo, and Benin, the early end of rainfall has led to increased moisture deficits. A delayed onset of the rainy season, followed by poorly-distributed rainfall, has led to abnormal dryness across western and north-central Nigeria.
Infrequent and light rains since the beginning of the season have led to insufficient rainfall accumulations for southern portions of Chad, including the Batha, Biltine, and Ouaddai regions. Rainfall levels between 25-50% of normal has led to decreased soil moisture and poor vegetation conditions.
A delayed onset and lack of rainfall has resulted in abnormal dryness across parts of central and eastern Sudan, western Eritrea, and northwestern Ethiopia. The most impacted states in Sudan are Gadaref, Sennar, and Blue Nile, including important agricultural regions where much planting is being delayed. In Ethiopia, a delay in substantial rainfall is already negatively impacting vegetation over the eastern Amhara Province.