Heavy rains may lead to flooding, landslides in Central America; early season dryness continues in Southern Africa
Low and poorly distributed seasonal Deyr rains have led to growing moisture deficits and deteriorating ground conditions throughout several local areas of southern Somalia, central Kenya, and coastal Tanzania. Recent rains have relieved dryness some dryness, but rainfall deficits remain in many local areas.
Since late September, rainfall has been below average and poorly distributed throughout central Angola, leading to large moisture deficits. Rainfall increased during late November, but cumulative deficits remain. This earlyseason dryness follows drought conditions from a poor rainy season last year.
Several weeks of infrequent and below-average rainfall have led to abnormal dryness early in the rainy season throughout eastern Zambia, northern Zimbabwe, western Mozambique, and southern Malawi. Rainfall is forecast to be below average during the next week, which will likely worsen dryness in affected areas.
Despite an increase in rainfall over South Africa and eastern Botswana during late November, the northern and eastern parts of the South Africa have continued to receive below-average rainfall since the beginning of October. This has delayed planting over many localized areas.