The Horn of Africa will have higher-than-normal temperatures from October to December, during which time the region is also predicted to endure El Nino rains, resulting in major flooding, the East African bloc’s climate office warned on Wednesday.
In its most recent forecast, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Climate Prediction and Applications Center (ICPAC) said that higher temperatures would cause heat stress in some countries in the Horn of Africa, including Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia.
Temperatures in certain countries are forecast to reach 40 degrees Celsius as the region deals with the effects of climate change.
“Warmer than usual conditions are expected over the region, with highest probabilities over parts of Ethiopia, southern Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and places in Tanzania,” said ICPAC.
The institute stated that rising temperatures will provide favorable conditions for vectors like mosquitos to thrive, potentially leading to an increase in mosquito-borne diseases like malaria, dengue fever, and lymphatic filariasis. As rainfall increases and temperatures rise above average, pests and diseases are likely to thrive.
According to ICPAC, an examination of global climate model predictions indicates a higher likelihood that the region would see above-average rainfall in practically all countries from October to December.
The organization has encouraged the region’s governments to raise awareness of the impending rains and provide action information to citizens, including farmers, on crops to plant and the potential consequences.