Dry Conditions Expected Across Greater Horn of Africa

Drought in Ethiopia has led to successive failed harvests and widespread livestock deaths in some areas (Photo: WFP/Melese Awoke)

By Gift Briton

The Greater Horn of Africa is largely predicted to experience drier than usual conditions in the next seven days.

According to the Intergovernmental Authority On Development(IGAD)’s Climate Prediction and Application Centre(ICPAC), the dry conditions are most likely to be prominent across central to northern Ethiopia, northern Eritrea, much of South Sudan, southern and central Sudan, western Kenya and central to northern Uganda.

On the other hand, few areas including parts of western Ethiopia and north-western South Sudan, are expected to receive heavy rainfall.

Northern Sudan, coastal Eritrea, north-eastern and southern Ethiopia, Djibouti, central to northern Somalia, much of Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda, and most parts of Tanzania will probably not receive any rainfall during the forecast period.

However, Sudan, central South Sudan, parts of central and eastern Ethiopia, much of Eritrea, central to southern Somalia, eastern and southern Tanzania, coastal and western Kenya, central to northern Uganda, central to western South Sudan, isolated areas in western Eritrea, and western to northern Ethiopia are likely to receive light to moderate rainfall.

Hot temperatures above 32 °C are expected over central to northern Sudan, Afar region in Ethiopia, Djibouti, coastal regions of Eritrea, and north-western coastal parts of Somalia. The rest of the areas across the region are likely to experience moderate to mild conditions.