Rainfall continues in the Sahel, no weather hazards reported over Africa
Africa Overview
Rainfall continues over the Sahel
Last week, many places in West and Central Africa received moderate to locally heavy rainfall. Weekly rainfall totals exceeded 75 mm in southwestern Senegal and Mali, parts of northern Guinea-Conakry, local areas in Nigeria, and southern and eastern Chad. The heaviest rainfall registered in southwestern Mali and southeastern and eastern Chad. Very heavy rainfall was also recorded over the Darfur region of Sudan (Figure 1). Western Senegal, much of Liberia, eastern Burkina Faso, northern Ghana, and northeastern Nigeria continued to receive light rainfall.
Another week of moderate rainfall was observed over Cote d’Ivoire and southern Ghana. In general, rainfall amounts remained average to above-average over much of the Gulf of Guinea countries, except for small areas in Senegal, Liberia, eastern Burkina Faso, and northeastern Nigeria. In general, 30-day rainfall totals remained above average over many places in the Sahel region (Figure 2). Analysis of the anomalous number of rain days since the beginning of June also suggests favorable conditions throughout West Africa, with only a few areas in Burkina Faso and Senegal registering a few rain days below normal.
During the next week, potentially heavy rainfall is forecast across the western Sahel, with weekly rainfall accumulations (>75 mm) expected over Guinea-Conakry, Sierra Leone, southern Mali, and farther east over already the Darfur region of Sudan. More seasonable rainfall is expected throughout the Gulf of Guinea countries. Heavy rains expected in western Sudan may pose threats for flooding Eastern Sudan and Ethiopia remain wet
Another week of heavy rainfall sustained moisture surpluses across eastern Sudan and western Ethiopia. Weekly rainfall totals exceeded 100 mm over the far eastern Sudan and in western Tigray, Benishangul-Gumuz and Amhara regions of Ethiopia (Figure 1). Light rainfall was also recorded throughout parts of Yemen, South Sudan, Uganda and Kenya. Normal rainfall prevailed across Sudan Eritrea and northern Ethiopia, while rainfall totals remained below-normal across southern South Sudan, southern Ethiopia, northeastern DRC and portions of the Lake Victoria region (Figure 2). While average to above-average rain has benefited agricultural activities over areas of Sudan and western Ethiopia, consistent rain could also pose threats for flooding and water-borne disease outbreaks over some areas.
During the next week, moderate to heavy rainfall is expected over western Ethiopia and parts of Eritrea.