vf-tropicom Meteorological Analysis for West Africa
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Seasonal Vegetation Index - 2004/2005

Seasonal Vegetative Index

Seasonal Rainfall - 2004/2005
in mm
Seasonal Rainfall
Calculated Rain Line Location Across the Season
Rain Line Location
River Basin Seasonal Rainfall Analysis
For West Africa
River Basin Rainfall
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Preliminary Monthly Weather Analysis
West Africa 2004/2005

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

  • April 11-20 2005 - Seasonable dryness continued to prevail across the Sahel. However, an early onset of the seasonal rains is evident over portions of southeastern Mali and most of Burkina Faso as light to moderate rains (7-52 mm; 94-510% of normal) continued to fall in these areas. In the Gulf of Guinea region, light rains (2-33 mm; 17-67% of normal) fell over parts of the central areas of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, and northern Benin. However, locally moderate to heavy rains (52-131 mm; 227-251% of normal) fell over portions of south central Côte d’Ivoire and northwestern Ghana. Dry conditions prevailed over Guinea. Satellite rainfall estimates indicated 10-75 mm across Sierra Leone, Liberia, and the central and southern areas of Nigeria. Dry conditions prevailed over northern Nigeria. Temperatures were generally 1 to 2 degrees C above normal across the Sahel. >
  • April 1-10 2005 - Sasonable dryness prevailed across the Sahel, although spotty light rains (2-7 mm) scattered over portions of central Burkina Faso and western Mali. In the Gulf of Guinea region, isolated moderate to heavy rains (27-280 mm; 93-587% of normal) fell locally over southern Côte d’Ivoire, portions of western Ghana, and central Togo. Dry conditions prevailed across Guinea and most of Benin. Satellite rainfall estimates indicated (1-25 m) over most of Sierra Leone, Liberia, and southern Nigeria. Dry conditions prevailed over central and northern Nigeria. Temperatures averaged 1 to 3 degrees C above normal across the region.
  • March 2005 - Midlatitude disturbances brought light but unseasonable rains across parts of the Sahel, including southeastern Mauritania, Mali, and Burkina Faso. Dry conditions prevailed across most of Senegal, southwestern Mauritania, and Niger. In the Gulf of Guinea region, spotty light to moderate rains (2-24 mm; 8-315% of normal) fell over Guinea. Satellite rainfall estimates indicated light rains (10-50 mm) across Sierra Leone and the western areas of Liberia. Rainfall estimates were heavier ((50-200 mm) along the coastal areas of the Gulf of Guinea from Côte d’Ivoire eastward to Nigeria.
  • March 21-31 2005 - Seasonable dryness prevailed across the Sahel. Spotty light rains (1-10 mm) fell locally over southern Guinea and the northern areas of Ghana, Togo, and Benin. Satellite rainfall estimates indicated 10-50 mm along the coastal areas from Liberia eastward into Nigeria. Temperatures averaged 1 to 3 degrees C above normal across the region.
  • March 11-20 2005 - Seasonable dryness prevailed across the Sahel, except over eastern Burkina Faso, where mid-latitude disturbances dumped light rains (4-6 mm). In the Gulf of Guinea region, dry conditions prevailed across Guinea, Sierra Leone, and western Liberia. Moderate to heavy rains (16-85 mm; 96-433% of normal) fell along the coast of the Gulf of Guinea from Côte d’Ivoire eastward into Nigeria. Temperatures were generally 2 to 3 degrees C above normal across the region.
  • March 1-10 2005 - Persistent mid-latitude disturbances once again dumped unseasonable rains (1-18 mm) over portions of the western areas of Mali and Burkina Faso, but were confined to far southeastern Mauritania. Seasonably dry weather prevailed in the remainder of the Sahel. Dry conditions also prevailed in the northern areas of the Gulf of Guinea. However, spotty light to moderate rains (4-57 mm; 67-462% of normal) fell over portions of central Guinea, south central Côte d’Ivoire, and along the costs of Ghana, Togo, and Benin. Temperatures averaged 2 to 3 degrees C above normal across the region.
  • February 2005 - Light to locally moderate but unseasonable rains (1-106 mm) fell over southern Mauritania, most of Senegal, and western Mali. Seasonably dry conditions prevailed in the remainder of the Sahel. In the Gulf of Guinea region, dry conditions prevailed in the northern areas, while satellite rainfall estimates indicated 25-100 mm along the coast.
  • February 21-28 2005 - Persistent midlatitude disturbances dumped unseasonable rains (1-58 mm) across southern Mauritania and portions of western Mali. Seasonably dry weather prevailed in the remainder of the Sahel. Dry conditions also prevailed in parts of the Gulf of Guinea region, including the northern areas, Sierra Leone, and Liberia. However, light to moderate rains (1-25 mm) fell along the coastal areas from Côte d’Ivoire to Nigeria Temperatures were generally 2 to 3 degrees C above normal across the region.
  • February 11-20 2005 - Seasonable dryness prevailed over the Sahel. However, spotty light rains fell over western Mauritania and parts of northern Senegal. In the Gulf of Guinea region, light to moderate rains (10-21 mm, 69-136% of normal) occurred locally over southern Côte D’Ivoire and southern Ghana. Dry conditions prevailed elsewhere. Temperatures were generally 1 to 4° C above normal across the region.
  • February 1-10 2005 - Seasonably dryness prevailed over the Sahel and much of the Gulf of Guinea region. However, light spotty rains fell along the Guinea coast from Côte d’Ivoire eastward into Benin. Temperatures were generally 1 to 3 degrees C above normal across the region, except over Mauritania, where they were below average.
  • January 2005 - Seasonable dryness prevailed across the Sahel and most of the Gulf of Guinea region. Isolated light to moderate rains (1-77 mm) fell portions of the central areas of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana.
  • January 21-31 2005 - Seasonably dry weather prevailed over the Sahel and most of the Gulf of Guinea region. The only exceptions were spotty light to moderate rains (6-77 mm) over southern Côte d’Ivoire, and central Ghana and along the southeastern coast line. Temperatures were generally 1 to 3 degrees C above normal.
  • January 11-20 2005 - Seasonably dry weather prevailed. Temperatures were 2 to 3 degrees C above normal over Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and southern Nigeria and 2 to 4 degrees C below normal from eastern Niger into Chad and northeastern Nigeria.
  • January 1-10 2005 - Seasonably dry weather prevailed, with near normal temperatures.
  • December 2004 - Seasonable dryness prevailed across the Sahel and most of the Gulf of Guinea region. Satellite rainfall estimates indicated light to moderate rains (25-50 mm) along the coastal areas of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana.
  • December 21-31 2004 - Seasonable dryness prevailed across the region, except isolated light showers along the coast of the Gulf of Guinea in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. Temperatures were generally 1 to 4 degrees C above normal across the region.
  • December 11-20 2004 - Seasonable dryness prevailed across the Sahel and the northern areas of the Gulf of Guinea region. Isolated moderate to heavy rains (17-55 mm; 132-300% of normal) fell over the southern areas of Côte D’Ivoire and Gabon. Satellite rainfall estimates indicated 25-75 mm over eastern Liberia, while dry conditions prevailed across Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Nigeria. Temperatures were generally 1 to 3 degrees C above normal across the region.
  • December 1-10 2004 - Seasonably dry conditions prevailed across the Sahel and the Gulf of Guinea region. However, spotty light rains (1-23 mm) fell along the coast from Côte d’Ivoire to Ghana. Temperatures were generally 1 to 3 degrees C above normal across the region, except over Senegal and western Mauritania, where they were 1 to 3 degrees C below normal.
  • November 2004 - Seasonable dryness prevailed across the Sahel and northern Nigeria. However, light but unseasonable rains (9-29 mm) fell locally over western Mauritania and southwestern Burkina Faso. Light to moderate rains (49-155 mm; 100-221% of normal) fell over southern Côte d’Ivoire, Benin and Togo. Satellite rainfall estimates indicated moderate rains (50-200 mm) over portions of Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and southern Nigeria. Dry conditions prevailed over northern Guinea and the northern areas of Nigeria.
  • November 21-30 2004 - Seasonable dryness prevailed across the Sahel and the northern areas of the Gulf of Guinea region. However, as the ITCZ continued its southward progression, light to moderate rains (6-91 mm; 91-542% of normal) fell over southern Côte d’Ivoire, portions of central and southern Ghana and southern Togo. Satellite rainfall estimates indicated light rains (10-25 mm) over the southern areas of Sierra Leone and Nigeria, while the estimates were moderate (25-150 mm) over southern Liberia. Dry conditions prevailed across most of Guinea and the northern areas of Nigeria. Temperatures were generally 1 to 4 degrees C above average across Sahel, Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire and 1 to 4 degrees C below average across the rest of Gulf of Guinea States.
  • November 11-20 2004 - Seasonable dryness prevailed across the Sahel and the northern areas of the Gulf of Guinea region. However, as the ITCZ continued its southward progression, light to moderate rains (12-76 mm; 120-968% of normal) fell over southern Côte d’Ivoire, portions of central Ghana, and southern Togo. Satellite rainfall estimates indicated light rains (10-25 mm) over portions of Sierra Leone, Liberia, and southern Nigeria. Dry conditions prevailed across most of Guinea and the northern areas of Nigeria.
  • November 1-10 2004 - The ITCZ retreated southward, leaving hot and dry weather in its wake across much of the Sahel region. Appreciable rainfall (1-24 mm) covered western and southeastern Mali, southeastern Senegal and western portion of Burkina Faso, but the remainder of the Sahel countries continued to saw dryness. In the Gulf of Guinea region moderate to heavy rains (11-249 mm) fell over most of Togo and Benin. Elsewhere, light to moderate rains (1-60 mm) fell across Guinea, Southern Côte d’Ivoire, most of Ghana and central Nigeria. Satellite rainfall estimates indicated light to moderate rains (10-75 mm) across Liberia and Southern Nigeria. The estimate ranged between 75 and 150 mm across Sierra Leone, southeastern Nigeria. Temperatures were generally 1 to 3 degrees C above normal in most of Sahel countries and Benin and 1 to 4 degrees C below normal in the rest of Gulf of Guinea states, Chad and Mauritania.
  • October 11-20 2004 - The ITCZ retreated southward, leaving hot and dry weather in its wake across the central and eastern Sahel. Appreciable rainfall (5-40 mm, 50-160% of normal) covered southern Mali and extreme southern Senegal, but the remainder of the Sahel counties saw dry weather. Normal amounts are mostly in the 1 to 16-mm range this time of the year, so the dryness was not unusual. Temperatures, however, ranged from 2 to 3 degrees C above normal over the western Sahel. To the south, in the Gulf of Guinea countries, rainfall amounts of 15 to 50 mm, locally above 75 mm, were fairly typical for mid-October.
  • October 1-10 2004 - The ITCZ began its southward progression several weeks ago resulting in light rains across most of the Sahel. The exceptions were southern Senegal, eastern Burkina Faso, and portions of southern Niger where rainfall amounts ranged between 12 and 64 mm (96-198% of normal). In the Gulf of Guinea region, isolated moderate to heavy rains (37-320 mm; 80-681% of normal) soaked portions southern areas of the region from Côte D’Ivoire eastward into Benin. However, light to moderate rains (1-39 mm; 2-56% of normal) fell in the northern areas of those countries and also over Guinea. Satellite rainfall estimates indicated 10-50 mm over most of Sierra Leone and the western half of Liberia. They ranged between 50 and 150 mm over eastern Liberia. Rainfall estimates were extremely heavy (75-250 mm) over portions of southeastern Nigeria, while the estimates ranged between 75-150 mm over the southwestern and central areas of Nigeria. Drier conditions prevailed in the northern areas of the country. Temperatures were generally 1 to 3 degrees C above normal over most of Sahel and Gulf of Guinea states. They were 1 to 2 degree C below normal over northern Senegal and southern Chad.
  • September 2004 - Rainfall deficits prevailed across most the Sahel. Rainfall amounts ranged between 6 and 71 mm (10-72% of normal) over the southern areas of Senegal, Gambia, most of Mali, northern and western Burkina Faso, most of Niger and Chad. However, seasonal rains, some of which were heavy, prevailed across northern Senegal, locally over southern Mali, southwestern Burkina Faso, and locally over western Niger. In the Gulf of Guinea region, moderate to heavy rains (70-279 mm; 86-159% of normal) fell over southern Côte D'Ivoire, and most of Benin. Satellite rainfall estimates indicated heavy downpours (150-400 mm) over the southern half of Nigeria. Rainfall estimates were also heavy (100-200 mm) over portions of eastern Liberia, western Guinea, and most of Guinea Bissau. They ranged between 50 and 150 mm over Sierra Leone, central and eastern Guinea, and the northern areas of Nigeria.
  • September 21-30 2004 - Light rains prevailed across most of the Sahel. The largest rainfall deficits occurred in southern Niger, western Mali, and southern Mauritania, where rainfall amounts ranged between 1 and 5 mm (7-49% of normal). Light to moderate rains (12-58 mm; 27-74% of normal) fell across most of Burkina Faso, and western and southern Senegal. However, beneficial rains (32-69 mm; 83-433% of normal) fell across eastern and northeastern portions of Senegal. Moderate to heavy rains (42-81 mm; 86-118% of normal) also fell locally over portions of the southern areas of Mali and Burkina Faso. Beneficial rains also fell over southern Chad (12-110 mm; 83-274% of normal). In the Gulf of Guinea region, isolated moderate to heavy rains (27-480 mm; 95-461% of normal) soaked portions southern Côte D'Ivoire, southern Ghana, southern Togo, and most of Benin. Light to moderate rains (2-65 mm; 2-60% of normal) fell across most of Guinea, eastern Ghana, and northern Togo. Satellite rainfall estimates indicated 10-50 mm over most of Sierra Leone and the western half of Liberia. They ranged between 50 and 75 mm over eastern Liberia. Rainfall estimates were extremely heavy (100-200 mm) over portions of southeastern Nigeria, while the estimates ranged between 10 and 25 mm in the northern areas of the country. Temperatures were generally 1 to 3 degrees C above normal over most of Sahel and Gulf of Guinea states. They were 1 to 3 degree C below normal over most of Mauritania and southern Chad.
  • September 11-20 2004 - Light rains prevailed across most of the Sahel. The largest rainfall deficits occurred in southern Niger, western Mali, and southern Mauritania, where rainfall amounts ranged between 1 and 19 mm (4-68% of normal). Light to moderate rains (13-37 mm; 42-79% of normal) fell across most of Burkina Faso, and western and southern Senegal. However, beneficial rains (24-72 mm; 81-149% of normal) sustained moisture across the Groundnut basin of Senegal. Moderate to heavy rains (35-88 mm; 88-122% of normal) also fell locally over portions of the southern areas of Mali and Chad. In the Gulf of Guinea region, isolated moderate to heavy rains (36-66 mm; 89-141% of normal) soaked portions south central Côte d’Ivoire, southern and northeastern Ghana, and eastern Benin. Elsewhere, light to moderate rains (2-73 mm; 2-76% of normal) fell across most of Guinea, portions of central Ghana, and Togo. Satellite rainfall estimates indicated light to moderate rains (10-50 mm) across Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and northern Nigeria. The estimates ranged between 75 and 150 mm across southern Nigeria. Temperatures were generally 1 to 3 degrees C above normal across the region.
  • September 1-10 2004 - Beneficial rains continued to fall across many parts of the Sahel. Most of Senegal, including the Groundnut basin, western and central Mali, southeastern Mauritania, portions of northern and southern Burkina Faso, and southeastern Niger received 20-172 mm (86-188% of normal). However, southern Senegal, portions of western Mali, central Burkina Faso, most of Niger, and Chad received lighter rains (7-60 mm; 13-68% of normal). Rainfall deficits were even higher in northern Senegal and southern Mauritania, where rainfall amounts ranged between 2 and 35 mm (7-69% of normal). In the Gulf of Guinea region, moderate to heavy rains (20-72 mm; 81-209% of normal) fell over the southern areas of Benin and Togo, Ghana, and central Côte d’Ivoire. However, rainfall remained lighter than normal across Guinea, where rainfall amounts ranged between 4-88 mm; 2-76% of normal. Satellite rainfall estimates indicated isolated heavy downpours (75-150 mm) over many parts Nigeria. However, most of the country received 10-50 mm. Rainfall estimates ranged between 25 and 75 mm across Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leone and Liberia. However, the extreme southeastern part of Liberia received heavier rains (75-150 mm). Temperatures generally averaged 1 to 2 degrees C above normal across the region.
  • August 2004 - Rainfall amounts somewhat plummeted this month across most of the Sahel. The largest deficits covered most of Chad, Niger, central and southern Burkina Faso, central and portions of western Mali, eastern Senegal, and southern Mauritania. Rainfall amounts in those areas ranged between 4 and 135 mm (3-78% of normal). However, seasonal rains (31-222 mm; 83-105% of normal) fell over central and western Senegal, including the Groundnut basin. The same amounts were seen over portions of southern Mali, northern Burkina Faso, and locally over southern Niger. In the Gulf of Guinea region, moderate to heavy rains (80-217 mm; 87-119% of normal) fell across most of Ghana and locally over central Côte d’Ivoire. Rainfall was suppressed in Guinea, Togo, and Benin, where the amounts ranged between 34 and 236 mm (5-75% of normal). Satellite rainfall estimates indicated moderate to heavy rains (150-300 mm) across Sierra Leone, western Liberia, and the eastern Half of Nigeria. Rainfall estimates ranged between 25 and 100 mm across northern and western Nigeria.
  • August 21-31 2004 - Rainfall was variable across the Sahel. The Groundnut basin of Senegal, most of Mali, and portions of northern Burkina Faso, and southeastern Niger, continued to receive beneficial rains (57-132 mm; 101-240% of normal). However, light to moderate rains (2-78 mm; 27-60% of normal) fell across the northern, eastern and southern areas of Senegal, southern Mauritania, most of Niger, and Chad. In the Gulf of Guinea region, moderate to heavy rains (28-72 mm; 98-203% of normal) soaked most of Ghana, the southern areas of Benin and Togo, and south central Côte d’Ivoire. Lighter than normal rains (4-88 mm; 2-76% of normal) fell across Guinea. Satellite rainfall estimates indicated that heavy downpours 75-150 mm persisted over Sierra Leone and eased short term dryness over Liberia. Rainfall estimates ranged between 75 and 150 mm over central and southeastern Nigeria, while the rest of the country received 10-50 mm. Temperatures averaged 1 to 2 degrees C above normal across the region.
  • August 11-20 2004 - Beneficial rains (26-127 mm; 85-1882% of normal) soaked the Groundnut basin of Senegal, western and southern Mali, portions of northwestern Burkina Faso, portions of southern Niger, and locally over southern Chad. However, central Mali, western Niger, and central Burkina Faso continued to receive light rains (3-49 mm; 4-54% of normal). Unseasonable dryness prevailed over southern Mauritania. In the Gulf of Guinea region, light rains (2-28 mm; 9-47% of normal) fell across most of the region. However, isolated showers (26-67 mm; 80-173% of normal) fell over portions of central Côte d’Ivoire, northwestern and southeastern Ghana, northeastern Benin, and southern Guinea. Satellite rainfall estimates indicated heavy downpours (75-150 mm) across Sierra Leone. They ranged between 10 and 100 mm northward from southern to northern Nigeria. Rainfall estimates were lighter across Liberia, while seasonable dryness prevailed along the coast from Côte d’Ivoire to Benin. Temperatures averaged 2 to 3 degrees C above normal across the region.
  • August 1-10 2004 - Showers marked the start of the wet season in northwestern Senegal (20-54 mm; 71-107% of normal), with seasonal showers across southern Mauritania (5-40 mm; 16-117% of normal). Seasonal rains fell across most of the central and western Sahel (15-145 mm; 17-142% of normal), however conditions were unseasonably dry in central and portions of southwestern Mali (0-10 mm; 0-9% of normal). Seasonal rains fell over southern Chad (29-93 mm; 40-109% of normal) with little if any rainfall reported in central Chad (0-6 mm; 0-10% of normal). Showers and thunderstorms were observed across most of Côte D’Ivoire, northern Ghana, Togo and Benin (10-86 mm; 68-118% of normal) with localized torrential rain in Togo and eastern Ghana (up to 166 mm; up to 533% of normal). Temperatures averaged 1 to 2 degrees Celsius above normal across the Sahel and 0 to 2 degrees Celsius above normal over the Gulf of Guinea region.
  • July 2004 - Normal to above normal seasonal rains fell across much of the Sahel. Seasonal rains, some of which were heavy, prevailed across southern Senegal, southern Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, northern Côte D’Ivoire, northern Nigeria and southern Chad (120-375 mm; 87-172% of normal). Unusually heavy rains fell over portions of central Niger (60-140 mm; 150-300% of normal), making for a wet July. By contrast, portions of southwestern Niger received lighter than normal rains during July (38-104 mm; 33-72% of normal). Rainfall was light and mainly occurred during the last few weeks of the month across northwestern Senegal and southwestern Mauritania (3-30 mm; 6-82%), as seasonal rains were slow to get established. Rainfall was also light and scattered across much of central Chad (0-52 mm; 0-62% of normal). Temperatures across western Africa were generally near normal for the month.
  • July 21-31 2004 - Seasonal rains fell across southern Senegal, southern Mali, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and southern Niger (25-110 mm; 60-135% of normal). Very heavy rains were reported over portions of southern Mali (southern Kayes and western Sikasso regions) as well as the southeastern corner of Senegal (123-250 mm; 121-263% of normal). Heavy rain was also reported over northern portions of Togo and Benin (131-187 mm; 107-165% of normal). By contrast, a drying trend was underway across southern Côte D’Ivoire and southern Ghana (0-23 mm; 0-67% of normal) as the mini dry season continues. Seasonal showers began to advance into the Groundnut Basin in Senegal towards the end of the period (7-60 mm; 15-88% of normal), with showers also moving into extreme southern Mauritania (1-25 mm; 1-49% of normal). Seasonal rains were underway in southern Chad (22-198 mm; 24-287% of normal), with dry conditions across the north. Temperatures across West Africa generally averaged within 2 degrees Celsius of normal.
  • July 11-20 2004 - Wet season rains continued to fall across most of the Sahel where the season started on time to early. Moderate to locally heavy amounts of rain fell across southern Senegal, Guinea, southern Mali, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and southern Niger (20-116 mm; 42-191% of normal). Showers advanced into far southern parts of Mauritania, indicating a start to the wet season. Showers and thunderstorms were observed over most of central and southern Chad (25-60 mm), including the refugee camps located near the Sudanese boarder. Across southern Côte D’Ivoire and southern Ghana, showers were scattered as the mini dry season approaches. Temperatures across western Africa were generally near normal. However, temperatures were 1 to 3 degrees Celsius above normal in northwestern Senegal and western Mauritania.
  • July 1-10 2004 - Moderate to heavy rains (32-129 mm; 93-282% of normal) sustained moisture over southern and central Burkina Faso, portions of western Mali, the Groundnut basin of Senegal as well as southern Senegal. Moderate rains (24-39 mm; 79-125% of normal) fell locally over northeastern Senegal, portions of southern Niger, and locally over eastern Chad. However, most of central Mali, portions of western Niger, and most of southern Chad experienced moisture deficits. Rainfall amounts in those areas ranged between 1 and 39 mm (2-74% of normal). Dry conditions persisted across most of northern Senegal and Mauritania. In the Gulf of Guinea region, moderate to heavy rains (44-292 mm; 81-517% of normal) soaked most of Niger, Togo, Ghana, and central Côte d’Ivoire. Lighter rains (2-47 mm; 2-53% of normal) fell across Guinea. Satellite rainfall estimates indicated 25-50 mm over portions of southeastern and northern Nigeria, western Côte d’Ivoire, and western Liberia. Rainfall estimates were heavier (50-100 mm) over western and eastern Nigeria, and across Sierra Leone. Temperatures were generally 1 to 2 degrees C above average, except over eastern Chad, where they were 1 to 2 degrees C below average.
  • June 2004 - Monthly rainfall was 86 to 369% of normal across the southern areas of the Sahel from Chad to Senegal. The heaviest rains (84-225 mm) were confined in southern Mali and northern Burkina Faso. Southern Senegal also received 124-142 mm. However, light than normal rains (2-35 mm; 3-69% of normal) fell over most of the ground nut basin of Senegal, central Mali, central Niger, and most of Chad. Seasonable dryness prevailed over Mauritania. In the Gulf of Guinea region, moderate to heavy rains (115-184; 80-157% of normal) fell over most of Benin, Togo, northern Ghana, and central Côte d’Ivoire. Light rains (14-38 mm; 5-43% of normal) fell across Guinea. Satellite rainfall estimates indicated (50-200 mm) across Nigeria and Sierra Leone. Rainfall estimates were lighter over Liberia.
  • June 21-30 2004 - Moderate to heavy rains (21-210 mm; 99-370% of normal) soaked southern Chad eastward into the southern areas of Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Senegal. However, lighter rains (2-29 mm; 17-67% of normal) fell over most of the ground nut basin of Senegal, central Mali, and northern Burkina Faso. Seasonable dryness prevailed over Mauritania and the northern areas of the Sahel. In the Gulf of Guinea region, moderate to heavy rains (21-75 mm; 84-180% of normal) fell over the northern areas of Benin, Togo, and Ghana. Lighter rains (3-52 mm; 5-67% of normal) fell over most of the southern areas of those countries, over central Côte d’Ivoire, and Guinea. Satellite rainfall estimates indicated moderate to heavy rains (25-75 mm) across Nigeria, while Sierra Leone received 10-50 mm. Dry conditions prevailed over Sierra Leone. Temperatures generally averaged 1 to 2 degrees C above normal.
  • June 11-20 2004 - The wet season was starting early to on time across the Sahel. Seasonal rains were underway across southern Senegal, southwestern Mali, Burkina Faso, northern Nigeria and southern Chad (10-60 mm). Heavier rains fell over southern Burkina Faso, northern Ghana, northern Togo and Benin (47-118 mm; 60-253% of normal). Seasonal rains along the Gulf of Guinea coast were normal to lighter than normal (12-113 mm; 7-98% of normal). Seasonably dry conditions prevailed across northern Senegal, southern Mauritania and central Chad. Scattered showers were reported over southwestern Niger (2-21 mm; 13-127% of normal). Temperatures were near normal across the Gulf of Guinea region. In the Sahel, temperatures averaged 1 to 2 degrees Celsius above normal. Where seasonal rains have not yet begun, high temperatures ranged from the upper 30’s to lower 40’s. Where seasonal rains have begun, highs ranged from the upper 20’s to mid 30’s.
  • June 1-10 2004 - Seasonal showers continued over southern portions of the Sahel (10-50 mm; 37-193% of normal) where the wet season is off to a good start. Heavier rains (50-80 mm; 168-379% of normal) were reported over western Burkina Faso and southwestern Mali. Seasonal showers were also observed over the Gulf of Guinea countries (50-100 mm; 52-108% of normal). Early showers were reported over central Mali, southern Senegal and extreme southern portions of Niger (3-84 mm; 30-319% of normal). Conditions were seasonably hot and dry over central Chad, Mauritania and northern portions of Senegal. Temperatures averaged 1 to 2 degrees Celsius below normal across the Gulf of Guinea countries and the southern half of the Sahel. Temperatures were 1 to 2 degrees Celsius above normal across central Mali and northern Senegal with average temperatures of 2 to 6 degrees Celsius above normal in northwestern Mauritania.
  • May 2004 - The rainy season is well underway over southern Burkina Faso and southern Chad, where rainfall totals for the month ranged between 65 and 107 mm (75-205% of normal). Southern Niger also received sufficient rains (19-83 mm; 109-460% of normal) for crop planting. Isolated areas in southern Senegal and extreme western Mali received 46-61 mm (158-302% of normal) signaling a good start of the rainy season in those areas. However, light rains (1-54 mm; 7-57% of normal) fell over most of Mali and locally over central Senegal. Seasonable dryness prevailed over Mauritania and in the northern areas of the Sahel. In the Gulf of Guinea region, rainfall was above normal over central and coastal Côte d'Ivoire, southeastern Ghana, and in the southern and northern areas of Togo and Benin. Rainfall totals in those areas ranged between 131 and 325 mm (109-239% of normal). However, light to moderate rains (1-93 mm; 1-65% of normal) fell over most of Ghana, the central areas of Togo and Benin, and Guinea. Satellite rainfall estimates indicated heavy rains (150-400 mm) over most of Nigeria, except the northern areas which received 25-50 mm. Rainfall estimates also ranged between 25 and 50 mm over most Sierra Leone and western Liberia.
  • May 21-31 2004 - Locally heavy rains (46-81 mm; 134-295% of normal) fell over portions of southern Senegal, extreme western Mali, western and central Burkina Faso. Unseasonably moderate to heavy rains (17-78 mm; 155-482% of normal) also fell over southern Niger. However, light rains (1-21 mm; 2-61% of normal) fell over most of central Senegal, Mali, and Burkina Faso, while seasonable dryness prevailed over northern Senegal and Mauritania. Moderate to heavy rains (35-70 mm; 94-248% of normal) fell over southern Chad. In the Gulf of Guinea region, moderate to heavy rains (42-155 mm; 78-238% of normal) soaked south central Côte d'Ivoire, southeastern Ghana, the southern areas of Togo and Benin. However, light rains (1-34 mm; 2-51% of normal fell over central and northern Ghana, and over northern Togo and Benin. Satellite rainfall estimates indicated light rains (1-10 mm) over most of Sierra Leone and Liberia. The estimates showed that heavy rains (50 and 100 mm) persisted over central and southern Nigeria, while the northern areas of the country received 10-25 mm. Temperatures averaged 1 to 3 degrees C above normal across Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, and Guinea. They averaged 1 to 3 degrees C below normal elsewhere.
  • May 11-20 2004 - The rainy season is off to a good start in Burkina Faso as rainfall has been increasing steadily in this country. Additional moderate to heavy rains (18-71 mm; 172-291% of normal) fell over the western and eastern areas during this period. Elsewhere in the Sahel, light to moderate rains (2-63 mm; 29-206% of normal) fell over southern Chad, southern and western Niger, and southwestern Mali. Seasonable dryness prevailed over Senegal and Mauritania. In the Gulf of Guinea region, rainfall was quite spread out from eastern Guinea to Nigeria. According to satellite rainfall estimates, the heaviest rains (100-200 mm) occurred along the coastal areas of Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, and Liberia. Rainfall estimates ranged between 10 and 75 mm in the central and northern areas of the Gulf of Guinea sub-region. Dry conditions prevailed over most of Guinea Bissau and western Guinea. Temperatures were generally 1 to 3 degrees C above average across the region.
  • May 1-10 2004 - The ITCZ retreated slightly southward from the previous period over Mali and Burkina Faso but advanced northward over Chad. Its location was close to the long-term mean except near the western coast, where it remained south of the mean. The overall progress of the rainy season in West Africa remains generally favorable, although rainfall amounts of 10 to 30 mm from the southern Sahel into the northern Guinea zone tended to be below normal this period (25-85% of normal). Nigeria was the exception to the drier pattern, as estimated rainfall exceeded 200 mm in the north-central region and in the southeast along the Cameroon border. Temperatures generally averaged around 2 degrees C above normal across the region, but readings reached 3 to 4 degrees above normal in central Chad and western Mali. Maximum temperatures rose as high as 45 degrees C in the Sahel.
  • April 2004 - An early start to the seasonal rains led to well above-normal monthly totals from southern Mali through central and southern Burkina Faso into western Niger (10-120 mm, 200-400% of normal). Seasonably dry weather prevailed over the rest of the Sahel region, although southern Chad started to record light to moderate rainfalls (10-50 mm). Abundant rains fell across the Gulf of Guinea countries (75-200 mm, 90-150% of normal), with the heaviest amounts over southeastern Nigeria and adjacent Cameroon (300-400 mm, 125-150% of normal). There were some dry pockets with less than 50% of normal in southwestern Ghana, southern and western Côte d’Ivoire, northern Liberia, and southeastern Guinea. Temperatures averaged near normal except for about 2 degrees C above normal in western Mali and Guinea.
  • April 21-30 2004 - As the ITCZ advanced northward, rains moved deep into Burkina Faso (4-82 mm) as well as into western Niger (1-30 mm). Illustrating how unusual these amounts were for late April, the totals in Burkina Faso exceeded 300% of normal at several locations. Light to moderate rains (10-25 mm) dampened southern Mali, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and northern Nigeria. As expected, heavier amounts covered the Gulf of Guinea countries to the south, with 50 to 100 mm common from Liberia eastward into Nigeria. Excessive totals of 100 to 200 mm drenched the border area between Nigeria and Cameroon.
  • April 11-20 2004 - Seasonable dryness prevailed across the Sahel. However, light to moderate rains (3-50 mm; 117-478% of normal) sustained moisture locally over southwestern Mali and across Burkina Faso. In the Gulf of Guinea, moderate to heavy rains (34-113 mm; 101-298% of normal) fell over central Côte d’Ivoire, eastern and southern Ghana, and the southern areas of Togo and Benin. Light rains (1-20 mm;4-78% of normal) fell over interior Ghana, northern Togo and Benin. Satellite rainfall estimate indicated 10-200 mm from central Nigeria southward into the southeastern coastal areas. Dryness continued to prevail over northern Nigeria, western Guinea, and Sierra Leone, while the estimates were about 10-25 mm across eastern Guinea, and 50-150 mm over eastern Liberia. Temperatures averaged 1 to 2 degrees C above average across the region, except over the western areas of Senegal and Mauritania, where they averaged 1 to 2 degrees C below normal.
  • April 1-10 2004 - Seasonable dryness prevailed across the Sahel, except for isolated light to moderate rains (2-68 mm; 138-714% of normal) locally over southern Mali, western and eastern Burkina Faso, and central Chad. Moderate to heavy rains (19-128 mm; 84-173% of normal) fell over most of Benin, Togo, portions of southern Ghana, and locally over central Côte d’Ivoire. Light rains (3-23 mm; 16-78% of normal) fell over most of northern and central Ghana as well as northeastern Benin. Seasonable dryness prevailed over Guinea. Satellite rainfall estimates indicated 10-25 mm over most of Liberia and central Nigeria. Rainfall estimates ranged between 75 and 150 mm over southern Nigeria, while seasonable dryness prevailed to the north and over most of Sierra Leone. Temperatures averaged 1 to 2 degrees C above normal across the region.
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