• Widespread floods claim over 1 000 lives, leave 4 million affected in West and Central Africa

    ByHarsha Borah

    Widespread floods in West and Central Africa, caused by extraordinary torrential rains since July 2024, killed at least 1 000 people and affected 4 million. The floods destroyed 300 000 homes and displaced 500 000 people. The catastrophic humanitarian situation, aggravated by the northward passage of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), has resulted in widespread damage to homes, schools, medical facilities, swaths of farmland, and heightening the risk of water-borne diseases, food insecurity, and malnutrition.

  • Heavy rains soak Sahara Desert as northward ITCZ shift alters African weather patterns

    ByRishav Kothari

    Heavy rainfall across the Sahara Desert, linked to a shift in the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), is leading to extraordinary weather patterns across Africa. Forecast models suggest that the region may see several years’ worth of rain over the coming weeks making 2024 the wettest year for the Sahara Desert, with Mauritania and Mali among the hardest-hit areas.

  • Record rainfall hits Tanzania, causing widespread flooding

    ByTeo Blašković

    Record-breaking rainfall hit parts of Tanzania, the most flood-affected country in eastern Africa, over the past couple of days, causing widespread flooding, mudslides and major travel disruptions. More than 170 mm (6.7 inches) of rain was measured in Dar es Salaam…