Africa Faces Weather Extremes

Experts warn of severe droughts and floods as El Niño risks intensify, urging urgent preparedness, stronger early warning systems, and coordinated climate action across the continent.

By Francis Maingaila ♥️ 

Lusaka, Zambia24 -- (June 19, 2026 ) — African climate experts, government officials, and international organisations have warned of heightened risks from an approaching El Niño cycle, calling for stronger preparedness, improved early warning systems, and increased investment in climate resilience across the continent.

Zambia’s Director of Meteorology in the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment, Edson Nkonde said that Africa must prepare for possible severe droughts and floods within the next three years, and the warning emerged during the Continental Climate Outlook Forum hosted in Zambia, where participants said the risks could vary depending on regional climate variations.

Nkonde said the forum provided a platform for assessing projected climate conditions and preparing sector-specific responses across the continent

He said the meeting focused on anticipated El Niño impacts and rainfall patterns across Africa, with key outputs including a continental climate outlook statement, sector-specific advisories, and the launch of the 2025 State of the Climate for Africa report.

Nkonde said the findings would guide national preparedness efforts, particularly in agriculture, water, and energy sectors, adding that continuous coordination between global, regional, and national meteorological centres remained essential due to rapidly changing climate conditions.

The African Union Commission warned that rapid population growth and infrastructure gaps are increasing Africa’s vulnerability to climate shocks.

Director for Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy at the African Union Commission, Harsen Nyambe said many countries investing in renewable energy such as hydropower remain highly exposed to drought conditions linked to El Niño.

“Countries are investing in clean energy, but they still suffer when climate shocks occur. This is an issue that needs to be considered in climate negotiations,” he said.

Nyambe also highlighted rising risks in urban areas, noting that unplanned population growth and weak infrastructure are increasing disaster vulnerability

He said the African Union is implementing the Africa Urban Resilience Programme to strengthen infrastructure and disaster preparedness in cities.

Programme Officer at the Pan African Farmers Organisation, Aimable Twagirayezu said African governments are increasingly integrating climate policies into development plans but face major funding constraints.

He said competing priorities such as health and education limit climate adaptation financing, noting that climate change is an additional burden African countries did not create.

Twagirayezu added that developed countries have not fully met their climate finance commitments under international agreements, urging governments to develop bankable resilience projects that can attract international climate finance, including loss and damage funding mechanisms.

Officials from disaster risk and meteorological agencies stressed the importance of timely data sharing and effective communication to communities.

A representative of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, Marco Masabo said climate information must be translated into simple language for farmers and rural communities.

“We need to ensure that information is not only generated but also understood and applied,” he said, calling for stronger collaboration between governments, farmer organisations, and the private sector.

Director of the Africa Regional Office of the World Meteorological Organization, Agnes Kijazi described the current climate outlook as a wake-up call, warning of possible extreme weather events across Africa.

She said governments must strengthen preparedness systems and activate early warning mechanisms at national and community levels, adding that while uncertainty remains, preparedness is critical.

Participants further emphasised the need for coordinated climate forecasting and harmonised messaging across Africa, noting that meteorological institutions are working with global climate centres to improve data sharing and ensure consistent forecasts for decision-makers.

The African Union said it would convene a broader ministerial meeting to review outcomes from the forum and develop continental strategies to address anticipated climate impacts.

The said media will play a key role in translating scientific climate data into accessible public information, through radio, television, print, and community platforms.

Experts also warned that changing climate conditions are increasing health risks, including malaria and other vector-borne diseases linked to shifting temperatures and rainfall patterns, calling for closer coordination with health agencies including the .

Officials further noted that Africa continues to engage in international climate negotiations through the African Group of Negotiators, advocating for stronger global support for adaptation and resilience despite the continent contributing a small share of global emissions.

They said scientific data from meteorological services continues to strengthen Africa’s position in global climate discussions and supports evidence-based policy and negotiation strategies.