Highlights
Rainfall patterns
February 2024 was a very wet month in the southern part of the country, as predicted. The North-West, South-West, Littoral and parts of the Centre and East regions received double or even triple the cumulative rainfall recorded in February 2022. In the northern part of the country, rainfall totals this month were similar to those recorded in February 2022 and 2021.
Extreme rainfall and soil wetness The heavy rainfall recorded this month in the southern regions was mainly in the third decade of the month. This was particularly the case in the North-West and West regions, and in most of the SouthWest, Littoral, Centre and East regions, as suggested by the maximum duration of the dry spells. In the northern regions, the rainfall totals recorded this month seemed to be the result of scattered precipitation.
Rainfall Monthly Forecast for March 2024
During the month of March 2024, rainfall deficits were expected in the North and Adamaoua regions, as well as in parts of the Far North, East, Littoral and South-West regions. These rainfall deficits were expected to vary between 10% and 40%, with the greatest deficits recorded in the North (Faro and Mayo-Rey divisions) and Adamaoua (Faro and Déo, Djérem and Vina divisions). Rainfall totals were also expected to be slightly in excess locally, in the North-West, South-West, West, Centre, South and East regions.
Flood/Drought Preparedness in the Far-North region
With the ongoing dry season, the various watersheds of the Logone and Chari rivers, which cross the entire Far North region down to Lake Chad, recorded no rains this month, as usual at this period of the year. This impacts the availability of water for people who depend on these rivers for their socio-economic activities (agricultures and livestock).
Thermal conditions within the riverbed suggest low humidity conditions, unfavorable to the presence of open water at the surface. However, it appears that the region has not been affected by drought this month, despite the lack of rainfall, even when the situation over the last three months is taken into account.
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