Namibia faces severe drought risk due to strong El Niño forecast
via The Namibian1 min read
Namibia is preparing for a potentially severe drought, as the Enso forecast indicates a strong likelihood of a Super El Niño event. El Niño, characterized by a warming of the ocean surface, directly correlates with dry seasons and droughts in Namibia. The probabilities for a strong El Niño are high, suggesting a severe drought is likely. This follows a very strong El Niño in 2024, which led to a national state of emergency and was described as the worst drought in 100 years. During that period, the Hardap Dam's capacity dropped to 5.5% in December 2024, and crop production was 56% lower than in 2023 and 70% lower than in 2022. The government also permitted the culling of wild animals for drought relief. The upcoming El Niño is expected to last from October to March 2027, coinciding with Namibia's critical planting and rainy season, raising concerns for water security and crop farmers.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.
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