Southern Africa: SADC Outlook Favours Drier Conditions Across Much of Southern Africa During the 2026/27 Rainy Season
The SADC has released a climate outlook for the 2026/27 rainy season, predicting drier conditions for much of Southern Africa due to a strengthening El Niño event. While some northern regions may see normal to above-normal rainfall, the central and southern areas face significant drought risks.
Why it matters
Accurate climate forecasting is essential for agricultural planning, food security, and disaster management in the Southern African region.
Swakopmund, Namibia, 27 August 2026: The Southern African Development Community (SADC), through the SADC Climate Services Centre and National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs), has released the regional climate outlook for the 2026/27 rainy season, indicating an increased likelihood of below-normal rainfall across much of the central and southern parts of the region, while wetter conditions are favoured across parts of the north and northeast.
For October-November-December (OND) 2026 , below-normal rainfall is favoured across much of Angola, southern Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, most of South Africa, Eswatini and Lesotho. Normal to above-normal rainfall is favoured over parts of the northern region, while above-normal rainfall is expected over eastern DRC, most of Tanzania, the extreme northern parts of Malawi and Zambia, and Seychelles.
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