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Global Weather Hazards Summary: February 10 - 17, 2017

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Heavy rainfall was widespread across much of southern Africa

Africa Weather Hazards

  1. Since December, increased locust numbers and breeding have been reported in western Mauritania, Western Sahara, and northeastern Sudan according to the Food and Agriculture Organization.

  2. Below-average and erratic rainfall over the past has resulted in strong moisture deficits, degraded ground conditions, and poor crop prospects across many parts of Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, bimodal and unimodal areas of Tanzania. Seasonal rainfall has continued to fail throughout portions of northern Mozambique. A recent influx of rains has mitigated deficits in the southern part of Tanzania.

  3. Many consecutive weeks of poor rainfall has strengthened moisture deficits, resulting in abnormal dryness, drought, and severe drought conditions in eastern and northern Madagascar. An increase in rain has begun to improve conditions for some central parts of the country but relief has not reached eastern coastal areas.

  4. Since late December, enhanced seasonal rainfall has resulted in large moisture surpluses and several floods. With wet conditions in place, risk remains high for additional floods throughout Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia and the Caprivi Strip region. Rapidly rising river levels have been reported along the Limpopo, Save, Buzi, Pungue, and Zambezi Rivers due to heavy rains upstream and downstream.

  5. A prolonged mid-season dry spell since late December has led to strengthening moisture deficits and deteriorating ground conditions across many parts of southwestern Angola and northwestern Namibia.