Driest February on record in southern Africa

Large parts of Zambia, Botswana and Zimbabwe have had the least rainfall for February since records began, according to satellite-based estimates, due to an El Niño weather phenomenon exacerbated by climate change

Driest since 1981
Second driest
Third driest


ANGOLA
NAMIBIA
200km 125 miles
BOTSWANA
DEM. REP. OF CONGO
ZAMBIA 
Lusaka
MALAWI
TANZANIA
Lake Malawi
MOZAMBIQUE
Lake Cahora Bassa
INDIAN OCEAN
SOUTH AFRICA
Harare 
ZIMBABWE
Lake Kariba

Kariba Dam: Zambia gets 85% of its electricity from hydropower – water levels for power generation at 15% of capacity.

River Zambezi: Flowing into Lake Kariba at less than 25% of same period in 2023 – lake could soon be lowest on record

Maize production: Severe impact on crop in Zambia – where 45% of planted areas destroyed – Zimbabwe, southern Malawi and central Mozambique

Sources: Bloomberg, OCHA Picture: Getty Images © GRAPHIC NEWS