vf-tropicom Meteorological Analysis for West Africa
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Seasonal Vegetation Index - 2005/2006

Seasonal Vegetative Index

Seasonal Rainfall - 2005/2006
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 2005/2006

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

  • April 2006 - Abnormally dry weather extended from northern Nigeria across southern Chad, as the rains were slow to get started in this region. Amounts tended to be near to slightly below normal elsewhere south of the Sahel. The Sahel countries experienced seasonably dry weather, except for seasonable to above-normal rains in parts of southern Mali and southern Burkina Faso. Temperatures averaged near to slightly above normal across West Africa. >
  • April 21-30 2006 - Above-normal rains expanded into southern parts of Mali and Burkina Faso (25-90 mm, 100-350% of normal), while seasonably dry weather extended across most of the remainder of the Sahel countries. The rainy season has been a little slow to start in southern Chad as well as northern Nigeria, although up to 19 mm of rain fell in southern Chad. Ghana and coastal Côte d’Ivoire reported above-normal rains, contrasting with drier weather the previous 10 days. Temperatures across the region were mostly near normal.
  • April 11-20 2006 - Unseasonably dry weather (0-10 mm) extended from northeastern Ghana eastward across Benin, Togo, Nigeria, and southern Chad, as the ITCZ remained well south of normal from Nigeria into Sudan. Seasonable rains (1-10 mm) fell in parts of southern Mali and Burkina Faso. Temperatures were generally 2 to 3 degrees C above normal from western Burkina Faso to Senegal, and up to 7 degrees C above normal in Mauritania. The 10-day mean temperature reached as high as 39 degrees C in southeastern Mauritania.
  • April 1-10 2006 - Seasonably dry weather prevailed in the Sahel and the northern areas of the Gulf of Guinea region. Light to moderate rains (10-50 mm) fell along the coast from Côte d’Ivoire to Nigeria. Rainfall was lighter (1-10 mm) over Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea. Temperatures were generally 1 to 2 degrees C above average across the Sahel, except over Niger, where they were 1 to 2 degrees C cooler.
  • March 11-20 2006 - Seasonably dry weather prevailed across the Sahel and the northern areas of the Gulf of Guinea region. Light rains (4-14 mm; 9-53% of normal) fell over most of the southern areas from Côte d’Ivoire eastward to Benin. However, isolated moderate to heavy rains (30-87 mm; 90-263% of normal fell over portions of south central Côte d’Ivoire, locally over western Ghana, and along the coast of Benin. Satellite rainfall estimates indicated dry conditions over most of Sierra Leone and Liberia, except locally in the south and the west, respectively.
  • March 1-10 2006 - Seasonably dry weather prevailed across the Sahel, while the southern areas of the Gulf of Guinea from Côte d’Ivoire eastward to Benin received moderate to heavy rains (27-95 mm; 95-153% of normal). Satellite rainfall estimates indicated 10-50 mm over most areas in southern Nigeria and across Liberia. Lighter rains (1-25 mm) fell over Sierra Leone, while dry conditions prevailed over Guinea. Temperatures averaged 1 to 3 degrees C above normal.
  • February 2006 - Seasonable dryness continued to prevail across the Sahel and most areas in the Gulf of Guinea region. Isolated moderate to heavy rains fell over pockets in the southern areas of Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, and locally over northern Benin.
  • February 21-28 2006 - Seasonably dry weather prevailed across the Sahel, while the coastal areas in the Gulf of Guinea received light to moderate rains (10-25 mm). Temperatures averaged 2 to 3 degrees C above normal.
  • January 11-20 2006 - Seasonably dry weather prevailed. However, winter rains occurred over portions of central Mali. Temperatures averaged 2 to 3 degrees C above normal.
  • December 2005 - Seasonable dryness prevailed across the Sahel and northern areas of the Gulf of Guinea region. Light rains (10-50 mm) fell along the coast.
  • December 21-31 2005 - Seasonably dry weather prevailed. Temperatures averaged 2 to 3 degrees C above normal.
  • December 11-20 2005 - Seasonably dry weather prevailed, except for spotty light rains over central Nigeria, southern Benin, northern Ghana, and portions of central Côte d’Ivoire. Temperatures averaged 2 to 3 degrees C above normal.
  • December 1-10 2005 - Seasonably dry weather prevailed, except for showers along the coast from Liberia to Nigeria. Temperatures averaged 2 to 3 degrees C above normal.
  • November 2005 - November rainfall was seasonably non-existent across the Sahel region, with the expected scattered heavy showers along the Gulf of Guinea coast from Liberia to Nigeria. Temperatures tended to be slightly above normal.
  • November 21-30 2005 - Seasonably dry weather prevailed, except for showers along the coast from Liberia to Nigeria. Temperatures averaged 2 to 3 degrees C above normal.
  • November 1-10 2005 - Seasonable dryness prevailed across the Sahel and the northern areas of the Gulf of Guinea. Rainfall amounts diminished over western Guinea and Sierra Leone, while southern Ghana and the coastline of Togo and Benin received moderate to heavy rains (50-75 mm). Temperatures were generally 1 to 2 degrees C above normal across most of the Sahel, except over Niger, where they were near average.
  • October 2005 - Unusual moderate to heavy rains persisted throughout the month over central and western Senegal. The rains extended to local areas in southern Mali, southern and eastern Burkina Faso, and southern Niger. Seasonable dryness prevailed in the northern areas of the Sahel. In the Gulf of Guinea region, moderate to heavy rains (150-300 mm) fell over Guinea Bissau, western Guinea, and Sierra Leone. These rains also covered eastern Côte d’Ivoire, southern Ghana, and southeastern Nigeria. Lighter rains (25-100 mm) fell over Liberia, the northern areas of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, and most of Togo and Benin.
  • October 21-31 2005 - Seasonable dryness prevailed across most of the Sahel, although light to moderate rains (11-29 mm; 110-207% of normal) lingered over central and southern Senegal. Light or no rain also fell across the northern areas of the Gulf of Guinea region. However, wet conditions (25-75 mm) continued to prevail over western Guinea and Sierra Leone. Locally moderate to heavy rains (75-150 mm) soaked the coast line between Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, and increased flood potential in southeastern Nigeria. Temperatures were generally 1 to 2 degrees C above normal across most of the Sahel, except over Niger, where they were near average.
  • October 11-20 2005 - Rainfall continued to decline in the Sahel, although unseasonable rains (20-30 mm; 118-165% of normal) lingered over western Senegal. Unseasonable rains also fell locally over portions of southern Mali, western Burkina Faso, and western Niger. Seasonable dryness prevailed across the northern Sahel. In the Gulf of Guinea region, light to moderate rains (2-31 mm; 20-71% of normal) fell across the previously wet areas from Benin westward into Cote dÂ’Ivoire. Exceptions were local areas in northwestern Benin, southwestern Ghana, and central Cote dÂ’Ivoire, where rainfall amounts ranged between 41 and 98 mm (89-159% of normal). Satellite rainfall estimates indicated that light rains (1-10 mm) sustained moisture deficit across eastern Guinea and Liberia, while seasonable dryness prevailed across northern Nigeria. However, heavy rains (50-150 mm) continued to soak central and southeastern Nigeria, while western Guinea and Sierra Leone received 25-75 mm. Temperatures averaged 1-3 degrees C above normal across the Sahel.
  • October 1-10 2005 - Rainfall declined in the Sahel although most areas received higher than normal amounts. These include southern Niger, central Burkina Faso, and local areas in western Mali. Rainfall is these areas ranged between 2 and 56 mm (105-563% of normal). The heaviest amounts (48-157 mm; 138-350% of normal) fell over western Senegal making this season one of the wettest in the historical record in this region. However, seasonable dryness prevailed across northern Senegal, Mauritania, and the central areas of Mali and Niger. In the Gulf of Guinea region, the rains in Niger extended further south to cover Benin, Togo, central Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire. Rainfall in these areas ranged between 42 and 94 mm (86-250% of normal). Lighter rains (18-43 mm; 44-78% of normal) fell across the northern areas of Ghana and Togo. Satellite rainfall estimation indicated light rains (10-25 mm) across eastern Guinea, western Liberia, and northern Nigeria. Heavy downpours (75-150 mm) soaked Guinea Bissau, western Guinea, and southeastern Nigeria. Temperatures were generally 1 to 3 degrees C above normal across the region.
  • September 2005 - Beneficial rains (21-258 mm; 88-173% of normal) fell across most of the Sahel, including central and southern Niger westward into Burkina Faso and portions of southern Mali. Moderate to heavy rains also doused the areas along the border between Senegal and Mali, as well as the western and southern portions of Senegal, including the peanut basin. Light to moderate rains (2-29 mm; 3-87% of normal) fell across most of southern Mauritania, and there were pockets of dryness in western Mali, where rainfall amounts ranged between 7 and 146 mm (8-64% of normal). In the Gulf of Guinea region, the moderate to heavy rains (116-224 mm; 85-185% of normal) were confined to local areas in central Côte d’Ivoire, central and southern Ghana, portions of northern and southern Benin. Rainfall deficits persisted over Guinea as amounts ranged between 17 and 166 mm (6-54% of normal). Satellite rainfall estimates indicated sustained rainfall deficits over central and eastern Guinea, eastern Sierra Leone and western Liberia. Pockets of rainfall deficits were also evident over northeast and southwestern Nigeria, while the central and southeastern areas received heavy rains (250-400 mm). Guinea Bissau and the coast line of Guinea also received sizable rainfall amounts (150-250 mm).
  • September 21-30 2005 - Favorable rains (27-183 mm; 82-256% of normal) returned to many parts in the Sahel, including most of Senegal, southern Mauritania, most of western and central Mali, the eastern half of Burkina Faso, and parts of southern Niger. However, little or no rain fell over northwestern Senegal and along the Mauritanian coast. Light rains (4-33 mm; 27-77% of normal) sustained moisture deficit across Western Burkina Faso and western Niger. In the Gulf of Guinea region, moderate to heavy rains (75-150 mm) soaked Guinea Bissau and the Guinean coast line, while interior Guinea continued to record moisture deficit as amounts ranged between 17 and 42 mm (17-41% of normal). Rainfall deficits were also evident in western Liberia and portions of northern Nigeria as rainfall estimates ranged between 10 and 25 mm in those areas. In contrast, heavy rains (75-100 mm) doused the coastal and central areas of the Gulf of Guinea region from Côte d’Ivoire eastward into Nigeria. Temperatures were generally 1 to 2 degrees C above normal across the region.
  • September 11-20 2005 - An abrupt southward shift of the ITCZ resulted in below normal rainfall across most of the Sahel. Many areas including the peanut basin of Senegal, western Mali, eastern Burkina Faso, and Niger recorded rainfall deficits as amounts ranged between 1 and 48 mm (3-59% of normal). The exceptions to these light rains were the far western edge of Senegal, portions of southern Mali, and local areas in Burkina Faso, where moderate to heavy rains (24-70 mm; 87-130% of normal) soaked the soil. Dry conditions prevailed in the northern edge of the Sahel. In the Gulf of Guinea region, the only areas that recorded above normal rainfall are northwestern part of Ghana, western Sierra Leone, local areas in central Côte d’Ivoire, and most of central and southeastern Nigeria. According to the satellite rainfall estimates, amounts in those areas were between 50 and 300 mm, the heaviest amounts being recorded in Nigeria. Elsewhere, rainfall deficit persisted in most of Guinea and along the Gulf of Guinea coastal areas. Satellite rainfall estimates were only in the range between 1 and 25 mm over most of these areas. Temperatures were generally 1 to 3 degrees C above normal across the region.
  • September 1-10 2005 - Moderate to heavy rains (32-134 mm; 85-230% of normal) sustained wet soils in many parts of the western Sahel, including western Senegal and portions of western Mali. Wet conditions (106-155 mm; 126-298% of normal) returned to western Burkina Faso ending 2 consecutive dekads of below average rains. Locally moderate to heavy rains (27-118 mm; 86-147% of normal) fell over southern Niger and central and southern Chad. Elsewhere in the Sahel, rainfall totals were below average and ranged between 2 and 45 mm (11-74% of normal) across southern Mauritania, northern and eastern Senegal, eastern Mali, eastern Burkina Faso, and portions of western Niger. In the Gulf of Guinea region, below-normal rains persisted over Guinea as rainfall totals ranged between 8 and 172 mm (7-68% of normal). However, moderate to heavy rains (35-153 mm; 96-158% of normal) soaked central Côte d’Ivoire, the northern half of Ghana, the northern and locally the southern areas of Togo and Benin. Drier weather prevailed along the Gulf of Guinea coast. Satellite rainfall estimates indicated moderate to heavy rains (10-100 mm) across Sierra Leone, northern Liberia, and Nigeria. Temperatures were generally 1 to 2 degrees C above average across the region, except over southern Chad, where they were 1 to 2 degrees C below normal.
  • August 2005 - August saw mostly above normal rainfall in the Sahel countries and below normal to the south in the Gulf of Guinea countries. Abundant rainfall this month continued the generally wet and favorable pattern seen during the current growing season across the Sahel region. Amounts from Senegal to Chad ranged from 125 mm to 200 mm (80-150 percent of normal), with higher amounts (200-300 mm) in several areas, including southern Mali, central Burkina Faso, western Senegal, and central and southern Chad. Amounts along the west coast of Senegal exceeded 300 mm in places, even exceeding 400 mm from southwestern Senegal southward to Guinea. The driest area was Côte d’Ivoire, with amounts ranging from 4 to 60 mm (3-50 percent of normal) in central and southern areas. The dryness extended into Liberia and parts of Ghana. Very wet weather hit parts of Nigeria and western and northern Cameroon, with satellite estimates topping 300 mm. Monthly temperatures averaged near normal across the region.
  • August 21-31 2005 - Heavy rains exceeding 120 mm hit western Senegal, western Mali, western and southern Chad, and parts of Nigeria and the coastal areas of Guinea and Sierra Leone, while drier weather (5-25 mm, 5-50 percent of normal) spread across southeastern Mauritania, the northern crop areas of Mali, western Burkina Faso, and parts of western Niger. The overall season continued to be favorably wet for the Sahel countries, as most of the locations that were dry this period were wet previously. An exception would be parts of western Burkina Faso, where rainfall totals were somewhat below normal in both mid and late August. A pocket of below-normal rainfall persisted throughout the month in southwestern Burkina Faso. To the south, amounts in Côte d’Ivoire totaled less than 10 mm (5-25 percent of normal) in central and southern areas, continuing a dry pattern seen for most of August. To the east, it was another story, as heavy rains deluged southeastern Nigeria and adjacent Cameroon, with satellite estimates showing amounts as high as 250 mm in Cameroon. The dropoff in rains in parts of western Niger could have been a concern, but heavy rains both before and after this period mitigated any problems arising from the dry spell. Temperatures across the region averaged 1 to 2 degrees C above normal, with up to 3 degrees C above normal in southern interior Côte d’Ivoire, adding to dry concerns there.
  • August 11-20 2005 - Moderate to heavy rains soaked most areas in the Sahel. The heaviest amounts (108-210 mm; 101-289% of normal) resulted in flooding over far western Senegal, where rainfall amounts averaged 209 mm over a 4-day period. The rains were also unusually heavy for southwestern Mauritania, where amounts ranged between 60 and 79 mm; 104-369% of normal), resulting in local flooding in the Nouakchott area. Elsewhere, beneficial rains (52-193 mm; 80-203% of normal) fell from central Senegal eastward into Niger and portions of central and southern Chad. The exceptions to the heavy rains are Burkina Faso, and local areas in Mali, where rainfall amounts ranged between 15 and 61 mm (44-68% of normal). In the Gulf of Guinea region, moderate to heavy rains (36-86 mm; 98-230% of normal) fell locally over central Cote dÂ’Ivoire, portions of eastern Ghana, central Togo, and northwestern Benin. However, light rains for the season (22-178 mm; 18-59% of normal) sustained moisture deficit over Guinea. Satellite rainfall estimates indicated moderate to heavy rains (25-75 mm) over Sierra Leone and most of central and northern Nigeria. Dry conditions prevailed along the coastal Gulf of Guinea from Liberia eastward to southwestern Nigeria. Temperatures were generally near average across the Sahel.
  • August 1-10 2005 - Light to moderate rains (3-37 mm; 12-53% of normal) fell across most of the Sahel, including northern and central Senegal, portions of western Mali, western Burkina Faso, south central Niger, and southern Chad. However, abundant rains (49-149 mm; 81-203% of normal) sustained moisture over southern Senegal, the eastern half of Burkina Faso, locally over portions of western Mali, southern Niger, and central Chad. Further south in the Gulf of Guinea region, rainfall amounts ranged between 4 and 36 mm (11-34% of normal) in Guinea, while satellite rainfall estimates indicated dry conditions along the Gulf of Guinea coastal areas from Liberia to Nigeria. Rainfall estimates were locally heavy (75-150 mm) over northern Nigeria, northern Benin, and southern Sierra Leone. Temperatures were generally 1 to 3 degrees C above normal across the region.
  • July 2005 - Despite the dropoff in rainfall late in the month, amounts ended up around 80 to 120 percent of normal for the Sahel agricultural regions from Mali to Chad, and 140 to 200 percent of normal for most of Senegal and adjacent portions of southwestern Mauritania. Three areas with less than 80 percent of normal included southeastern Senegal-southwestern Mali, southwestern Burkina Faso, and southeastern Niger. To the south, amounts tended to be below normal along the coastal areas from Liberia to Nigeria, although a few locations recorded normal rainfall. Temperatures across the region averaged near normal.
  • July 21-31 2005 - Although widespread showers crossed the region, rainfall amounts of 10 to 50 mm from Mali and southeastern Mauritania into Chad were only 25 to 60 percent of normal. Nevertheless, thanks to abundant earlier rains, cumulative rains this season remain near or above normal from Senegal to Chad. Farther south, wetter conditions prevailed in northern and central parts of Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, and Benin (30-165 mm, 100-300 percent of normal). Less rain (1-10 mm) fell on the coastal sections of the Gulf of Guinea, but lighter rains are the norm for this time of the year. Temperatures averaged about 2 degrees C above normal from Mali into western Chad and over southern Côte d’Ivoire.
  • July 11-20 2005 - Aove-normal rains spread across the western Sahel, as most areas from Senegal into western Niger saw 35 to 100 mm (100 to 200 percent of normal). Over 100 mm (250-375 percent of normal) fell in central interior sections of Senegal, with similar rainfall amounts measured in southern Mali, northern Benin, and locally in western Niger. Lighter amounts fell to the east from eastern Niger into Chad, but totals still exceeded 25 mm in most areas. Rainfall was scarce in southeastern Niger, where amounts failed to exceed 15 mm. Farther south, beneficial rains fell in the Gulf of Guinea coastal areas following dry weather during July 1-10. Many locations from Côte d’Ivoire into Togo picked up over 30 mm, although a few dry spots remained in Liberia, southwestern Ghana, and portions of Côte d’Ivoire. Temperatures mostly averaged near normal across the region, the main exception being scattered locations in Côte d’Ivoire averaging 2 to 4 degrees C above normal.
  • July 1-10 2005 - Abundant rains (50-150 mm, 100-300 percent of normal) covered the Sahel from Senegal to Chad, with amounts locally exceeding 150 mm in central Burkina Faso and southern Chad. Lighter amounts (10-50 mm, 15-170 percent of normal) fell over northern Senegal and southern Mauritania. Heavier totals accumulated over Cameroon, where satellite estimates exceeded 150 mm in central areas. The mid-summer dry period appears to have begun along the Gulf of Guinea coast, as very light or negligible rains (0-5 mm, 0-10 percent of normal) extended from southern Côte d’Ivoire into southern and central Ghana and coastal Togo and Benin. Associated with the lack of rain, temperature readings rose to 2 to 3 degrees C above normal in parts of Côte d’Ivoire, but readings averaged close to normal elsewhere in West Africa.
  • June 2005 - The ITCZ had advanced northward earlier than normal. This resulted in an early start to the rainy season and normal to well above normal amounts of precipitation across the Sahel and portions of the Sahara Desert (17-256 mm; 74-1700% of normal). Rainfall for the month of June was generally normal to above normal across the Gulf of Guinea countries (85-393 mm; 67-232 % of normal). However, rainfall was below normal in northeastern Côte D’Ivoire, central Ghana and central Togo (28-51 mm; 26-58 % of normal). Temperatures averaged near normal across West Africa.
  • June 21-30 2005 - The ITCZ remained stationary across Senegal and Mali, while actually retreating southward over Niger. This put the ITCZ at its climatological position over West Africa. Seasonal rains had started in western Senegal, central Mali and southwestern Niger. Seasonal rain, which started some 2 to 4 dekads early, continued across much of the Sahel (10-120 mm; 50-400+% of normal). Showers reached northward into the western parts of the Sahara Desert. Further south, showers continued across the Gulf of Guinea countries. Variable rains were reported across Côte D’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria (15-151 mm; 25-284% of normal). Heavy rain was observed along coastal sections of Côte D’Ivoire and Ghana (115-313 mm; 124-406% of normal). Temperatures averaged 1 to 3 degrees Celsius above normal across southern Senegal and southwestern Mali. The dakadal average temperature was 1 to 3 degrees below normal in southern Chad. Elsewhere in West Africa, temperatures were generally within 2 degrees Celsius of normal.
  • June 11-20 2005 - The rainy season has started some 2 to 4 weeks early across eastern Senegal, southern Mali, much of Burkina Faso, southern Niger and southern Chad. The Sahelian portion of the ITCZ was north of its climatological position, resulting in the early start of the rains. Variable showers were reported across the southern Sahel (5-105 mm, 14-656% of normal). The first rains of the season fell over Senegal’s Groundnut Basin (17-23 mm; 150-238% of normal). In southwestern Senegal and Guinea-Bissau, however, the onset of seasonal rains still had not occurred and is about 3 weeks late. Variable rains fell along the Gulf of Guinea Coast (18-328 mm; 11-338% of normal), with the lighter rains over Côte D’Ivoire and the heaviest rains along the Nigerian Coast. Temperatures averaged 1 to 3 degrees Celsius above normal across Burkina Faso, southern Mali, Senegal, Mauritania and Côte D’Ivoire. Temperatures were within 2 degrees Celsius of normal across Ghana, Togo, Benin and Niger, and were 1 to 3 degrees Celsius below normal across Chad.
  • June 1-10 2005 - Beneficial rains (28-109 mm; 95-306% of normal) fell over parts of the Sahel, including southern Senegal, southern Mali, northern Burkina Faso, southern Niger, and southern Chad. However, light rains (1-27 mm; 19-33% of normal) fell over central and eastern Senegal and over portions of the central areas of Mali, Niger, and Chad. Dry conditions prevailed across Mauritania. In the Gulf of Guinea region, moderate to heavy rains (49-206 mm; 79-236% of normal) fell over central Côte d’Ivoire, west central Ghana, most of Togo, and along portions of the coast line from Côte d’Ivoire to Benin. Light rains (7-30 mm; 10-47% of normal) fell over most of Guinea, except the northeastern and southwestern areas, where locally moderate to heavy rains were 86 and 186 mm (89-186% of normal), respectively. Satellite rainfall estimates indicated heavy downpours (50-100 mm) over most of Sierra Leone. The estimates ranged between 10 and 50 mm across most of Liberia and Nigeria. Temperatures were generally 1 to 2 degrees C above average across the region.
  • May 2005 - An early onset of the seasonal rains resulted in moderate to heavy rains (95-229 mm; 135-694% of normal) across the eastern half of Burkina Faso, while lighter rains (51-56 mm; 51-57% of normal) fell in the west. Locally moderate to heavy rains (15-54 mm; 105-359% of normal) fell over portions of southern Senegal, western Mali, and southern Niger. Seasonable dryness continued to prevail over northern Senegal and Mauritania. In the Gulf of Guinea region, the heaviest rainfall were amounts (138-340 mm; 80-162% of normal) occurred over central Côte d’Ivoire and along the coast line from Côte d’Ivoire to Benin. Lighter rains (28-93 mm; 12-77% of normal) fell in the northern areas of those countries. Rainfall was also suppressed (12-36 mm; 7-25% of normal) across Guinea. Satellite rainfall estimates indicated 10-100 mm across Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leone, and Liberia. Rainfall estimates ranged between 100 and 250 mm over southeaster Nigeria, and between 25 and 100 mm over central and northern Nigeria.
  • May 21-31 2005 - The rainy season slowed down over parts of the Sahel, including southern Senegal and western Mali, as light rains (1-7 mm; 17-44% of normal) fell over these areas. Light rains (2-8 mm; 13-66% of normal) also fell over portions of southern Niger. Light but beneficial rains (5-26 mm) also fell over portions of southern Niger and central Chad. In contrast, moderate to heavy rains (38-222 mm; 87-236% of normal) soaked most of Burkina Faso. In the Gulf of Guinea region, moderate to heavy rains (36-270 mm; 80-273% of normal) fell over northern Ghana, Togo, and Benin, and along the coastal line from Côte d’Ivoire to Benin. Little or no rain fell over Guinea. Satellite rainfall estimates indicated light rains (1-25 mm) across Liberia and Sierra Leone. Rainfall estimates ranged between 10 and 75 mm across Nigeria. Temperatures averaged 1 to 2 degrees C above normal across the region.
  • May 11-20 2005 - Light to moderate rains (17-26 mm) persisted over western Mali and extended westward to reach portions of southeastern Senegal, marking the debut of the rainy season in some of these areas. However, the rainy season slowed down across Burkina Faso as light rains (2-35 m; 1-38% of normal) fell in most areas. Seasonable dryness continued to prevail across most of Senegal, Mauritania, Niger, and central Chad. In the Gulf of Guinea region, light to moderate rains (1-39 mm; 2-44% of normal) fell across most of Guinea, central Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, and Benin. The exceptions were the coastal areas from Côte d’Ivoire to Ghana, where showers ranged between 115 and 307 mm (104-231% of normal). Satellite rainfall estimates indicated light to moderate rains (10-50 mm) across Sierra Leone and the western half of Liberia. Rainfall estimates ranged between 75 and 150 mm across eastern Liberia and portions of central Nigeria. Dry conditions prevailed across northern Nigeria. Temperatures averaged 1 to 2 degrees C above normal across the region.
  • May 1-10 2005 - The Intertropical Discontinuity (ITD/ITCZ) progressed about 2 degrees northward from the position of the climatological mean and resulted in spotty light to moderate showers (1-41mm) over local areas in southern Mauritania, southwestern Mali, southeastern Burkina Faso, and western and southern Niger. Rainfall was locally moderate to heavy (26-222 mm; 259-871% of normal) over southern Chad. Elsewhere in the Sahel, seasonable dryness prevailed across Senegal, most of Mauritania, and central Chad. In the Gulf of Guinea region, moderate to heavy rains (46-189 mm; 85-238% of normal) soaked portions of central and southeastern Côte d’Ivoire, eastern Ghana, northern Togo, and the northern and southern areas of Benin. Lighter rains (1-25 mm; 2-57% of normal) fell across Guinea. Satellite rainfall estimates indicated 10-25 mm across Sierra Leone and western Liberia, while eastern Liberia received 75-150 mm. Rainfall estimates were also extremely heavy (75-150 mm) over southeastern Nigeria. They were moderate 10-75 mm in the central and northern areas. Temperatures were generally 1 to 3 degrees C above average over Mauritania, Senegal, and Mali. They were about 1 degree C below average across Burkina Faso and Niger.
  • April 2005 - Seasonable dryness continued to prevail across the Sahel, except the early onset in the rains across Burkina Faso and southwestern Mali, where rainfall totals ranged between 2 and 41 mm (80-171% of normal). In the Gulf of Guinea region, dry conditions prevailed across the Guineas, while satellite rainfall estimates indicated 25-100 mm across the northern areas of Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, and Benin. The estimates ranged between 150 and 250 mm along the coastal areas of the Gulf of Guinea, except over Sierra Leone and the western half of Liberia, where the estimates ranged between 10 and 50 mm. Dry conditions prevailed along the northern border of Nigeria.
  • April 21-30 2005 - Seasonable dryness continued to prevail across the Sahel. However, light rains (2-14 mm) sustained moisture over portions of central and southern Burkina Faso, and southwestern Mali, where an early onset of the rains has been noticed. In the Gulf of Guinea region, dry conditions prevailed across the Guineas and Sierra Leone, while rainfall estimates ranged between 10 and 50 mm across the northern areas of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana and across most of Togo and Benin. Rainfall estimates were locally heavy (75-100 mm) over portions of the southern areas of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. Dry conditions prevailed over northern Nigeria, while heavy downpours pounded local areas in the east-southeast corridor. Temperatures were generally 1 to 2 degrees C above average across the region.
  • 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.
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