Subsaharan Africa Weather Analysis 2005

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Annual summary of areas of likely flooding

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Preliminary Monthly Weather Analysis
Subsaharan Africa 2005

From the African Desk, Climate Prediction Center, NOAA
Note: This information should be used with caution.
Weather data based on preliminary reports.

December 21-31 2005 - The Greater Horn of Africa had one of its worse short rain seasons in the historical record, while light rains continued to sustain moisture deficit over many parts in the Maize Triangle of South Africa. Heavy showers benefited Zimbabwe, central Mozambique, and central Madagascar. In central Africa, dry conditions continued to prevail across most of Cameroon, CAR, and northern DRC. Rainfall estimates ranged between 10 and 25 mm over the southern edge of Cameroon. They were heavier (50-100 mm) over Equatorial Guinea, the southern areas of Gabon and Congo, central and southern DRC. Dry conditions prevailed on central Gabon. >
December 11-20 2005 - Dryness worsened across the Greater Horn of Africa, and light rains sustained moisture deficit over many parts in the Maize Triangle of South Africa. Heavy showers benefited central Mozambique and central Madagascar. In central Africa, dry conditions prevailed across the northern areas of Cameroon, most of CAR, and northern DRC. Rainfall estimates ranged between 10 and 50 mm over southern Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, northern Gabon, most of Congo and central DRC. They were heavier (75-150 mm) over southern Gabon, and locally over portions of southern DRC.
December 1-10 2005 - Dryness returned across the Greater Horn of Africa, and light rains sustained moisture deficit over many parts of southern Africa, including Tanzania and the Maize Triangle. Heavy showers benefited most of Zimbabwe. In central Africa, moderate to heavy rains (50-200 mm) fell over southern Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, central Gabon, northern and central Congo, most of DRC, and portions of southern CAR. Lighter rains (10-25 mm) fell over the southern areas of Gabon and Congo, and over pockets in northern and eastern DRC. Dry conditions prevailed in the northern areas of CAR and Cameroon.
November 21-30 2005 - Heavy showers benefited portions of eastern Kenya as well as extreme southern Somalia, but dryness intensified over southern Somalia and adjacent Ethiopia, continuing the pattern of a poor short rains season in the Horn of Africa. Unusually dry weather also extended southward from Tanzania into northern Mozambique. In central Africa, above-normal rains covered most of DRC and southern CAR, but amounts were less than normal in Gabon, Congo, and western DRC. Reported temperatures averaged around 2 degrees C below normal in DRC but 2 to 4 degrees C above normal in CAR and Gabon.
November 1-10 2005 - Light rains relieved Cameroon and Nigeria from persistent flooding. Light rains also returned to most of Kenya, except the coastline which received beneficial rains for the first time this season. Moderate to heavy rains persisted in the Kwazulu/Natal province of South Africa, while the rainy season is up to good start in portions of northern Zimbabwe. In central Africa, dry conditions prevailed in the north as well as across CAR. Rainfall estimates ranged between 1 and 25 mm across northern DRC. They were heavier and ranged between 50 and 100 mm over portions of central and southern DRC, Congo, Gabon, and across Equatorial Guinea.
October 21-31 2005 - Unseasonably moderate to heavy rains lingered over Senegal. Heavy rains continued to sustain flooding conditions over southern Cameroon. Beneficial rains fell in portions of southwestern Kenya. However, many crop areas in East Africa continued to receive light rains. In central Africa, heavy rains (75-150 mm) continued to sustain flooding conditions over southern Cameroon and soaked most of Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and central Congo. Moderate to heavy rains (10-75 mm) also fell over most of CAR, most of Congo, and DRC. Seasonable dryness prevailed across most of Chad.
October 11-20 2005 - Heavy rains continued to sustain flooding conditions in southwestern Cameroon. Beneficial rains fell in portions of southwestern Kenya. However, many crop areas in East Africa continued to receive light rains. In central Africa, heavy rains (75-150 mm) sustained flooding conditions over southwestern Cameroon and soaked most of Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and central Congo. Moderate to heavy rains (10-75 mm) also fell over most of CAR and DRC. Lighter rains (1-50 mm) fell in portions of the southern areas of Congo and DRC. Light rains fell over southern Chad, while seasonable dryness prevailed to the north.
October 1-10 2005 - Heavy rains sustained flooding in southwestern Cameroon. Heavy downpours pounded Guinea Bissau and western Guinea, while light or no rain sustained moisture deficit in many parts of East Africa. In central Africa, heavy rains sustained local flooding over southwestern Cameroon as rainfall amounts ranged between 75 and 200 mm. Rainfall estimates were moderate (50-100 mm) in the remainder of the country. The rains extended eastward to western CAR, and southward to northern Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. However, the eastern areas of CAR and the southern areas of Gabon received lighter rains in the range between 1 and 25 mm. Light rains also fell across most of Congo and DRC.
September 21-30 2005 - Beneficial rains returned to most of the Sahel and heavy rains resulted in local flooding in Cameroon. Light or no rain fell in southwestern Kenya and in the vicinity of Lake Victoria. Unseasonable rains soaked parts of coastal Mozambique. In central Africa, heavy rains (75-200 mm) continued to soak western CAR and most of Cameroon, resulting in local flooding in western Cameroon. However, light rains (10-25 mm) sustained moisture deficit across northern Cameroon, eastern CAR, the northern areas of Congo and DRC, Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea.
September 11-20 2005 - Rainfall diminished substantially across the Sahel and light rains continued to sustain moisture deficit in parts of the Gulf of Guinea region. Moderate to heavy rains marked the onset of the short rains in southwestern Kenya and in many of the surrounding areas of the Lake Victoria. In central Africa, the heavy rains in Nigeria spread eastward to cover Cameroon and parts of CAR where rainfall estimates ranged between 75 and 300 mm. Rainfall estimates were moderate to heavy (50-100 mm) across northern Congo, and central and northern DRC. They were lighter (1-25 mm) over southern Congo, Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea.
September 1-10 2005 - Wet conditions continued to prevail across portions of western Sahel and beneficial rains fell over western Burkina Faso. Heavy rains struck the northern areas of the Gulf of Guinea region, while lighter than normal rains sustained moisture deficit across Guinea. In central Africa, the locally heavy rains in southern Chad extended to the northern areas of Cameroon and CAR with rainfall totals between 50 and 100 mm. Moderate to heavy rains also fell across most of DRC and northern Congo. However, light rains (6-52 mm; 2-59% of normal) fell across most of the central and southern areas of Cameroon, CAR. Dry conditions prevailed across most of Gabon and the southern areas of Congo and DRC.
August 21-31 2005 - The generally wet and favorable growing season continued across the Sahel countries. Excessive rains struck a few areas, but overall rainfall amounts diminished in the Sahel and increased to the south. An exception was Côte d’Ivoire, where abnormally dry weather prevailed. In central Africa, the wetness seen in southern Chad extended into most of Central African Republic, as estimated rainfall exceeded 100 mm in many parts of the country. Satellite data suggested improving rains in Gabon, helping to ease dryness in the north. Central and northern DRC experienced widespread totals of 50 to100 mm, which were near to above normal, while the south remained seasonably dry. Temperatures averaged 1 to 2 degrees C below normal in the wetter areas.
August 11-20 2005 - Extremely heavy rains resulted in flooding over the far western areas of the Sahel, while beneficial rains fell in the remainder of the region. Light rains sustained moisture deficit Guinea, while the crop areas in Sudan continued to receive abundant rains. In central Africa, seasonable dryness continued to prevail over southern Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, central and southern Congo, and southeastern DRC. Moderate to heavy rains (25-100 mm) sustained moisture over the northern areas of DRC and Congo, most of CAR, and northern Cameroon.
August 1-10 2005 - Lighter than normal rains once again fell over most of the Sahel, while the crop areas in Sudan continued to receive abundant rains. In central Africa, seasonable dryness continued to prevail over southern Cameroon, Euquatorial Guinea, Gabon, central and southern Congo, and southern DRC. Moderate to heavy rains (25-100 mm) covered the northern areas of DRC, most of CAR, and northern Cameroon.
July 21-31 2005 - Rains diminished this period across the Sahel, but seasonal accumulations remained near or above normal. In central Africa, rainfall increased in northern DRC to above-normal levels, but seasonably dry weather persisted over Gabon and Congo.
July 11-20 2005 - The generally favorable growing season continued across the Sahel, as heavy rains expanded northward from Senegal into Mauritania. In central Africa, rainfall tapered off from early July and tended to be below normal. Amounts ranged from 10 to 25 mm over northern DRC into southern CAR and westward into Congo, with lighter amounts in Gabon, where dry conditions continued. These totals were under 50 percent of normal, but follow a much wetter period during July 1-10. Temperatures averaged 2 to 3 degrees C below normal in CAR.
July 1-10 2005 - Heavy rains spread across the Sahel into Ethiopia, while abnormally dry weather extended from Côte d’Ivoire into Ghana. In central Africa, generous rains (50-100 mm, 110-200 percent of normal) covered the region from Central African Republic to northern DRC and northern Congo, as seasonably dry weather prevailed in southern and western areas. Reported temperatures average near to slightly above normal.
June 21-30 2005 - Early rains continue to benefit crops and pastures across most of the Sahel. Some of the best early season rains in decades have spread as far north as the Sahara Desert. Seasonal rains began early to on time in Sudan, Ethiopia and Eritrea. However, rainfall has been lighter than normal during the later half of June in some parts of southwestern Ethiopia and southeastern Sudan. Across southern Africa, the dry season continues. However, that did not prevent some heavy amounts of rain from falling at some locations in South Africa and Madagascar. In central Africa, showers were observed in Cameroon, central DRC, and northern Congo (10-70 mm; 50-130% of normal). Moderate to heavy seasonal rains fell across CAR and northern DRC (50-150 mm; 100-200% of normal). Seasonably dry conditions prevailed over Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, southern Congo and southern DRC.
June 11-20 2005 - Seasonal rains fell across the western highlands of Ethiopia and Eritrea. In the Sahel, seasonal rains were off to an early start in most areas due to an early northward movement of the ITCZ. Beneficial showers occurred across Western Cape, South Africa while the dry season was underway over most of southern Africa. In central Africa, seasonal rains fell across central Cameroon, CAR and northern DRC (25-100 mm). Showers were observed over northern Congo and central parts of DRC (5-50 mm), while drier than normal conditions prevailed across southern Cameroon (1-20 mm; 1-40% of normal). Conditions were seasonably dry across Gabon, southern Congo and southern DRC. Temperatures averaged 1 to 3 degrees Celsius above normal across CAR, and within 2 degrees Celsius of normal across Cameroon and Gabon.
June 1-10 2005 - Rainfall eased in southwestern Kenya, but persisted in western Ethiopia and southern Sudan. Beneficial rains fell over many areas in the Sahel. However, the rainy season is still to begin in central Sahel. Heavy rains sustained moisture along the Gulf of Guinea coast, while light rains persisted over Guinea. In central Africa, heavy rains (75-150 mm) persisted over western Cameroon, eastern and central CAR, and northern DRC. Moderate rains (10-50 mm) fell across most of Cameroon, most of Equatorial Guinea, and the northern areas of Congo and Gabon. Dry conditions prevailed across the southern areas of DRC, Congo, and Gabon. Temperatures were generally 1 degree C above normal over Gabon.
May 21-31 2005 - Heavy rains fell over southwestern Kenya and persisted over parts of Ethiopia, raising flooding potentials in some local areas. The rainy season slowed down over southern Senegal and western Mali. However, enhanced rainfall activity returned to Burkina Faso. In central Africa, heavy rains (70-100 mm) persisted over western Cameroon, while lighter rains covered the rest of the country. Moderate to heavy rains (10-75 mm) fell across CAR, Equatorial Guinea, northern Gabon, and the northern halves of Congo and DRC. Dry conditions prevailed across the southern areas of DRC, Congo, and Gabon. Temperatures were generally 2 degrees above normal over northern Gabon. They were near average in the south.
May 11-20 2005 - Rainfall eased over southwestern Kenya, while heavy rains fell over portions of the southeastern and north central areas. Heavy rains also fell over parts of Ethiopia, resulting in local flooding. The rainy season slowed down over Burkina Faso, and marked its debut in parts of southeastern Senegal. In central Africa, heavy rains (50-100 mm) persisted over western Cameroon, while light rains (1-25 mm) fell over most of the southern areas, CAR, and Gabon. Moderate to heavy rains (10-100 mm) fell over central and northern DRC and most of Congo. Dry conditions prevailed across southern DRC.
May 1-10 2005 - Moderate to heavy rains persisted over Kenya resulting in local flooding. The heavy rains also covered northern Uganda, southern Sudan and the belg region of Ethiopia. Heavy rains also soaked southeastern Nigeria and western Cameroon. Dry conditions prevailed over northern and eastern Kenya. In central Africa, heavy rains (75-100 mm) pounded western Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, eastern CAR, and northeastern DRC. Rainfall estimates were lighter (10-75 mm) across the central and northwestern areas of DRC and Congo, and northern and eastern Gabon. Dry conditions prevailed over central and southern Gabon, as well as the southern areas of Congo and DRC.
April 21-30 2005 - Beneficial rains continued to fall across the Maize Triangle of South Africa. Heavy rains sustained favorable conditions in the belg region of Ethiopia and beneficial rains fell over Somalia, while light rains sustained moist deficit over parts of southwestern Kenya. Rainfall eased somewhat over Burkina Faso. In central Africa, moderate to heavy rains (64-125 mm; 83-163% of normal) sustained moisture over portions of northern Gabon and benefited the south. The central and western areas received light to moderate rains (6-62 mm; 10-53% of normal). Satellite rainfall estimates indicated heavy downpours (75-150 mm) across central and southern Cameroon, locally over northern and western CAR, and northeastern DRC. The estimates ranged between 25 and 75 mm across central CAR, Congo, and most of northern DRC. They were lighter (1-25 mm) across central and southern DRC. Temperatures averaged 1 to 2 degrees C above normal across Gabon.
April 11-20 2005 - As the seasonal rains continued to wind down in southern Africa, beneficial rains were limited to portions of the Maize Triangle of South Africa. Rainfall returned in the belg region of Ethiopia, but diminished over southwestern Kenya. Abundant rains fell over western Burkina Faso and southeastern Mali. In central Africa, Light to moderate rains (11-35 mm; 19-56% of normal) sustained moisture deficit over most of Gabon. However, moderate to heavy rains (76-117 mm; 97-103% of normal) fell locally over the northwestern areas of the country. Seasonable dryness continued to prevail across extreme northern Cameroon and CAR, while the central and southern areas received 25-75 mm. The rainfall estimates were especially heavy over southwest CAR, western Cameroon, southern Congo, and most of northeastern DRC, where they ranged between 75 and 150 mm. Temperatures averaged 1 to 2 degrees C above normal across Gabon.
April 1-10 2005 - Light or no rain sustained moisture deficit across northeastern South Africa, Zimbabwe, southern Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique. Heavy rains fell locally over western Botswana. Unseasonable rains soaked western South Africa. Local areas in northern and central Kenya recorded rains for the first time in the season. The belg rains in southern Ethiopia diminished. In central Africa, Light to moderate rains (18-66 mm; 22-54% of normal) fell across Gabon, except locally in the north where rainfall amounts ranged between 120 and 125 mm (325-330% of normal). In Cameroon and CAR, seasonable dryness continued to prevail over the northern areas, while the central and southern areas received 1-25 mm. Rainfall estimates were also light (10-25 mm) across most of Congo and southern DRC. They ranged between 50 and 100 mm across northeastern DRC. Temperatures were generally 1 to 2 degrees C above average across Gabon.
March 21-31 2005 - Heavy rains pounded coastal southeastern Madagascar, while beneficial rains fell over portions of the Maize Triangle of South Africa. Little or no rain sustained moisture deficit across central Mozambique, southern Malawi, northern Zimbabwe, and southeastern Zambia. Light to moderate rains eased wetness in the belg region of Ethiopia. Beneficial rains fell over southwestern Kenya, but dry conditions persisted over most of the country. In central Africa, seasonable dryness continued to prevail over northern Cameroon and eastern CAR, while rainfall estimates ranged between 10 and 75 mm in the central and southern areas of Cameroon, as well as western CAR. Rainfall estimates were heavier (75-150 mm) across most of Gabon and locally over eastern DRC and southern Congo. Temperatures were generally 1 to 3 degrees C above average across Gabon
March 11-20 2005 - Moderate rains brought some relief to areas along the southern and central coast of Mozambique. However, little or no rain sustained moisture deficit across most of Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and southern Zambia. Moderate to heavy rains sustained moisture in the belg region of Ethiopia. Beneficial rains fell over southwestern Kenya, but dry conditions persisted over most of the country. In central Africa, moderate to heavy rains (21-143 mm; 84-203% of normal) fell over northern Gabon and locally over southern Gabon, southwestern Cameroon, and portions of central CAR. Satellite rainfall estimates indicated dry conditions over northern Cameroon. The estimates indicated heavy downpours (100-150 m) across Equatorial Guinea and eastern DRC. They ranged between 25 and 75 mm over Congo and western DRC. Temperatures were generally 1 degree C above normal across Gabon.
March 1-10 2005 - Moderate rains brought some relief to southern Africa. However little or no rains sustained moisture deficit across most of Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe, southern Zambia, and the Free State province of South Africa. The long rains are well underway in southern and central Ethiopia, but slow to start in most of Kenya. Unseasonable rains eased across southern Mauritania but continued over western Mali. In central Africa, moderate to heavy rains (17-73 mm; 106-211% of normal) fell locally over southern CAR, and northern and southern Gabon. Dry conditions prevailed over northern Cameroon, while satellite rainfall estimates indicated 10-25 mm in the central and southern areas. Rainfall estimates ranged between 75 and 200 mm across southern and central DRC, and southern Congo. The estimates were lighter (10-50 mm) in the northern areas of those countries. Temperatures were generally 1 to 3 degrees C above normal across Gabon.
February 21-28 2005 - Southern Mozambique and the western half of Zimbabwe continued to be dry. Beneficial rains brought relief across northern and central Mozambique, and the northeastern and central areas of Zimbabwe. Moderate rains fell locally over the crop growing areas of southwestern Kenya. Unseasonably wet conditions prevailed over southern Mauritania. In central Africa, light to moderate rainfall (13-69 mm, 79-178% of normal) fell locally over southern CAR, and along coastal areas of Gabon and Cameroon. Spotty light rains 4-14 mm; 28-44% of normal) covered most of Gabon. Satellite rainfall estimates indicated seasonable dryness the northern areas of Cameroon and CAR, while moderate to heavy rains (25-75 mm) covered DRC and Congo. Temperatures were generally 1 to 3 degrees C above normal across Gabon, CAR and Cameroon.
February 11-20 2005 - Moderate rains occurred across most crop areas of southern Africa, including the Maize Triangle of South Africa. Heavy rains occurred along the east coast of Madagascar. In central Africa, moderate to heavy rains (13-160mm, 115-212% of normal) occurred over the coastal areas of Gabon, western CAR, and coastal areas of Cameroon. Satellite rainfall estimates indicated 25-75 mm over most of DRC. The rainfall estimates indicated that dry conditions prevailed over eastern and central CAR, northern Cameroon and northern Democratic republic of Congo. Temperatures were 1 to 2 degrees C above normal over Gabon.
February 1-10 2005 - Light rains fell across many crop areas of southern Africa, including the Maize Triangle of South Africa and most of Zimbabwe. Heavy rains fell over northern Madagascar, while dry conditions prevailed in the south. In central Africa, Moderate to heavy rains (47-191mm, 153-216% of normal) soaked portions of the northern and southern areas of Gabon. However, lighter rains fell in the central areas of the country. Satellite rainfall estimates indicated moderate rains (10-50 mm) over the southern half of Cameroon, western CAR, most of Congo, and northern DRC. Rainfall estimates ranged between 75 and 150 mm over portions of the southern and central areas of DRC. Seasonable dryness prevailed over northern Cameroon and eastern CAR. Temperatures were generally 1 to 2 degrees C above normal over Gabon.
January 21-31 2005 - Heavy rains fell over parts of the northern areas of Southern Africa. The heaviest downpours occurred along the west coast of Madagascar. Light rains fell over most of the Maize Triangle of South Africa. In central Africa, moderate to heavy rains (20-142 mm; 104-209% of normal) fell over portions of southwestern Cameroon, western Gabon, and southern Congo. Satellite rainfall estimates indicated dry conditions across northern Cameroon, CAR, and northern DRC. However, the estimates ranged between 50 and 100 mm across central and southern DRC, and the southern areas of Congo and Gabon. They ranged between 10 and 50 mm over portions of northern DRC, northern Congo. Temperatures were generally 2 to 3 degrees C below normal across CAR. They were near normal in Gabon.
January 11-20 2005 - Heavy rains fell over many parts of southern Africa, including central Zimbabwe, central South Africa, central Mozambique, northern Namibia and southern Angola. In central Africa, dry weather continued over much of this region with some light spotty rains recorded over Gabon. Satellite rainfall estimates showed heavy rains of up to 150 mm over the southern portions of DRC and up to 75 mm over Congo. Near normal temperatures prevailed across the entire region.
January 1-10 2005 - Unfavorably dry weather extended from the western Maize Triangle to Cape Province in South Africa and from southern Mozambique into eastern Botswana, while excessive wetness stretched from Madagascar to northern Mozambique and eastern Zambia.In central Africa, satellite estimates showed heavy rains (100-200 mm, 125-150% of normal) over east-central DRC and southern Gabon.