The State of the Climate report, published each year as a supplement to the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, is the most comprehensive annual global climate report, with contributions from hundreds of authors worldwide. The newly released State of the Climate in 2024 details record-breaking global greenhouse gas concentrations and surface temperatures as well as other key trends, events, and phenomena.
In this post, we speak with Regional Climates chapter co-editor Ademe Mekonnen about the African climate in 2024. Read the Regional Climates chapter here [PDF].
What was your role in the report?
Editor for the Regional Climates Chapter and also editor and author for the African region sub-chapter.
What are some noteworthy trends or events you’d want to highlight from Africa in 2024?
In 2024, Africa registered above-average temperatures. Temperatures greater than 2.4°C were observed in Northwest Africa and over Southwest around the Kalahari Ddesert. Above-average temperatures were also observed over equatorial Africa. Above-average rainfall was reported in the Sahel. We note that a rainfall increase has been reported over Sahel and 2024 appears to trend in that way. Extreme flooding and droughts were also reported.
What was unexpected or differed from the norm last year?
The higher temperature anomalies over Northwest and Southwest Africa (> 2.4°C), and some meteorological stations reported unprecedented heat (e.g., ~50°C in Aswan, Egypt).
What do you worry about in the year ahead?
Extremes are increasing in Africa. While we observed extreme rains resulting in flooding and fatalities, there were also droughts that ravaged the region. This extreme trend is worrying as Africa has little to no options to mitigate the impacts.
Image at top: Rain clouds over Ephangweni, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Photo by Ndumiso Mvelase on Pexels.
