Flooding risks continue over Madagascar and northern Mozambique
Africa Weather Hazards
Since mid-December, consistent and significantly heavy rain has fallen over southeastern Africa. In parts of southern Malawi and central and northern Mozambique, these rains have resulted in widespread flooding, extensive damage to crops, livestock, and infrastructure, displacement of thousands of people, and fatalities. This excess rainfall also has increased the risk for river flooding downstream along the Shire, Licungo, Zambezi, Mazoe, Pungue, and Save Rivers. 2 Several consecutive weeks of poorly distributed, belowaverage rainfall has resulted in mid-season dryness across parts of eastern Botswana, northern South Africa, and central and southern Mozambique, with the largest moisture deficits in southern Zimbabwe. Continued dryness is forecast in early February, which may inhibit crop development.
Since late-December, a sharp reduction in seasonal rainfall has resulted in mid-seasonal dryness across several parts of southern Angola, northern Namibia, and the Caprivi Strip. The continuation of below-average rainfall is expected to inhibit crop development.
While much of South Africa has received adequate rainfall since the beginning of the Southern African monsoon, the eastern parts of the country have accumulated rainfall deficits, affecting agricultural conditions in the region.
Heavy rainfall is forecast during the next week across Madagascar, where flooding has damaged crops and infrastructure and increased the risk for water-borne disease outbreaks. Heavy rains during the next week will further increase flooding concerns.