IGAD warns of heavy rains in the Horn of Africa

IGAD warns of heavy rains in the Horn of Africa

 The Climate Prediction and Applications Center of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) said on Friday that the greater part of the Horn of Africa is expected to witness heavy rainfall between January and March 2024.

The center, based in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, said that wetter-than-normal conditions are expected in the southern and tropical parts of the region, which includes Tanzania, Burundi, Kenya, southern Uganda, as well as southwestern and northeastern Ethiopia.

He added: “Conditions are expected to be normal to dryer than usual in a few areas in central Kenya and northern and western Tanzania.” The Horn of Africa is generally dry during the period following the rainy season from October to December, but climate change is changing the weather pattern.

In addition to the expected heavy rains, the center noted that temperatures will be higher than usual during this period and that the most affected areas include parts of northern Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia, where temperatures may rise to between 32 and 40 degrees Celsius.

Last year, the Horn of Africa saw rapid changes in weather patterns, with the worst of the drought ending in March 2023, followed by El Niño rains in October, and heavy rains expected from January 2024.