WEEKLY AFRICAN WEATHER HAZARDS ASSESSMENT
                                
                JUNE 12, 2002 DISCUSSION:


1)   Persistent rains across the highlands of western Ethiopia have resulted in saturated soils and
swollen rivers across the region. With an additional 50 to 120 mm of rainfall expected during the
period, the risk of flooding exists across portions of western Ethiopia and adjacent portions of
Sudan. In areas of steep topography, the potential for landslides exists as well. 

2)   Sparse rainfall during April and May has resulted in dryness across coastal sections of
southeast Kenya. The dryness may stress maturing main season crops and reduce water supplies.
Except for a few widely scattered showers, no significant rainfall is expected throughout the
period. 
 
3)   A drought during the last half of the 2001-02 rainy season has resulted in large moisture          
deficits across the Limpopo River Basin in southeastern Africa. This has reduced water
availability to reservoirs, wells and rivers across the area. Improvement is not expected until
November, when the rainy season begins. 

4)   Recent rainfall has saturated soils and raised river levels across parts of northern DRC,
eastern CAR and adjacent portions of Chad and Sudan. Similar conditions exist across southern
Nigeria and much of Cameroon. Seasonal thunderstorm activity is expected to continue across
these areas, producing locally heavy rains. These rains may result in local flooding. Further west,
heavy rains are expected across southwestern Ghana, southern Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra
Leone and portions of Guinea during the period. The expectation of heavy rains, combined with
recent heavy rains across parts of this area, has resulted in the potential for flooding. Widespread
flooding problems are not anticipated.  


  
Author: Chester V. Schmitt