Honestly, if you think "Africa" and just picture a giant, sun-scorched desert, you’re missing the actual drama happening on the ground right now. Today, Sunday, January 18, 2026, the continent is basically a massive patchwork of wild extremes. You've got people in South Africa dodging Orange Level 9 flood warnings while folks in Nigeria are scratching their heads because the usual winter dust—the Harmattan—is practically a no-show.
It’s weird. It’s inconsistent. And it’s definitely not just "hot."
The Southern Flood Crisis: Why it’s more than just rain
Right now, the big story is in the South. The South African Weather Service (SAWS) isn't just predicting a few puddles; they've slapped Orange Level 9 warnings on the northern Escarpment and the Lowveld of Mpumalanga. That's serious business. We’re talking about disruptive rainfall that’s likely to cause widespread flooding and, frankly, it’s dangerous to life.
Fast-flowing streams are no joke. Communities are facing displacement. If you’re in Mbombela today, expect a high of 30°C but with a sky that’s completely cloudy and ready to dump more water on already saturated ground.
It’s not just South Africa, either.
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Mozambique, Malawi, and Zambia are also in the thick of it. The ground is so soaked from weeks of heavy rain that even a moderate shower now could trigger a landslide. In the DRC’s North Kivu Province, we’ve already seen the tragic side of this—at least 13 people died recently after torrential rains hit the Burutsi area.
The Mystery of the Missing Harmattan
Switch gears to West Africa, specifically Nigeria. Usually, this time of year, you’d be dealing with the Harmattan—that dry, dusty wind that blows in from the Sahara. It’s supposed to be cool, hazy, and kinda annoying for your skin and eyes.
But this year? It’s basically MIA.
Professor Chinedum Nwajiuba and other experts have pointed out that in places like Umudike, the usual daily temperature swings—sometimes dropping to 9°C and jumping to 30°C—just aren't happening. Instead, it’s staying stubbornly warm.
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Why does this matter? Well, for one, the dust usually helps fruit trees "know" it's time to flower. Without that trigger, farmers are worried that 2026 is going to be a bad year for fruit. Basically, the weather in Africa today isn't just about whether you need an umbrella; it's about whether there’s going to be enough food on the table in six months.
North Africa: The Chilly Exception
While the rest of the continent deals with floods and heat, North Africa is actually feeling like winter. Today’s forecast shows a crisp high of 72°F (22°C) and a low of 45°F (7°C). It’s clear, it’s sunny, and it’s about as "normal" as the weather gets right now.
But even here, there’s a looming shadow. While the day is pleasant, the long-term data shows the Mediterranean region is a hotspot for "Day Zero" water scarcity. It’s that classic irony—the weather looks beautiful on your phone, but the reservoirs are silently dropping.
East Africa’s Dry Spell
If you’re in Kenya or Somalia, you’re likely looking at clear blue skies. Sounds nice, right? Not really.
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Most of Eastern Africa is in the grip of a severe drought. The rainfall season is basically ending with a whimper. La Niña conditions in the Pacific are still messing things up, leading to suppressed rainfall across most of the region. While places like Tanzania are seeing some heavy "above-average" rain, the Horn of Africa—south-eastern Ethiopia and most of Somalia—is staring down a crisis.
What to actually do with this info
If you're traveling or living in these zones, "checking the weather" needs to be more than just looking at the temperature.
- In Southern Africa: Download the SAWS app or follow their Twitter/X feed. If you see an "Orange Level" warning, stay off the roads. Low-lying bridges are the first to go.
- In West Africa: Expect higher-than-usual humidity and heat. If you're a farmer, look into irrigation sooner rather than later because that "natural" Harmattan cooling isn't coming to save the crops.
- In East Africa: Water conservation isn't a suggestion anymore; it’s a requirement.
The weather in Africa today is a loud reminder that the old "dry season vs. rainy season" rules are being rewritten in real-time. Keep your eyes on the alerts, not just the sunshine.