Climate Data Update February, 2013
Issued: March 19, 2013
During the month of February 2013, the harsh Jilaal dry season (January – March) continued to prevail throughout the country, marked by dry weather conditions with strong winds and high evaporation rates. No rainfall was recorded in all the rain-gauge stations nationwide. This continued dryness is further confirmed by the field reports, which also indicated light showers in Janale district in the Lower Shabelle region.
The satellite derived Rainfall Estimates (RFE), further confirm the prevailing dry weather conditions across the country and cessation of Hays rains in Northwest (Maps 2-5 and 9). The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) for February 2013 depicts deterioration in the vegetation conditions in the southern areas of Bay, Lower and Middle Shabelle, as well as in the Lower and Middle Juba (Maps 6-8 and 10). Large decrease of biomass is evident in pockets of Middle Shabelle (Southern Agropastoral) and Lower Shabelle (Agropastoral Irrigated-Maize).
Due to the harsh Jilaal dry conditions reduced pasture and water availability is observed in most parts of the country. Poor Hays rains in Guban pastoral in the Northwest and poor Deyr 2012 rainfall performance in Nugal Valley of Sool, Sool Plateau of Sanaag, northern Gedo and the Coastal Deeh of Lower Shabelle and the Jubas have further worsened the already existing poor rangeland condition. Deterioration of livestock body condition has also been reported in the northern and central regions.
In most parts of the country, opportunistic normal livestock migration in search of better pasture and water is observed. However, abnormal migration has been reported in the Hawd and Nugal valley of Sool region owing to the early depletion of the rangeland resources.
Send by email
