Horn of Africa Regional Profile
Ethiopia
Sensitive Rain Seasons
- Kiremt (June–September): Primary agricultural season; frequently deficient during El Niño onset phases.
- Deyr / Bega (October–December): Normally dry or light rains in north; in south and southeast, El Niño triggers torrential downpours.
Primary Environmental Hazards
- • Crop shortfalls and reduced grain harvests across northern and central highlands
- • Flash flooding and river overflows along the Genale-Dawa and Wabe Shebelle rivers
- • Pastoral livestock losses from sudden flash floods in southeastern arid zones
- • Hydroelectric reservoir stress in upper Nile tributaries
Current 2026–27 El Niño Context for Ethiopia
The 2026 El Niño strengthens vigilance for highland agricultural water deficits while increasing flood alerts in downstream southeastern basins.
Major Monitored River Basins in Ethiopia
Wabe Shebelle
7.20° N, 42.00° EExtensive southeastern river that flows into Somalia; subject to rapid cresting during Deyr rains.
Abay (Blue Nile) Basin
11.60° N, 37.38° EHighland source basin feeding Lake Tana and Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
Monitored Cities in Ethiopia
Select any city below for real-time temperature, 7-day rainfall forecasts, and live flood risk score:
Addis Ababa
9.0° N, 38.7° EDire Dawa
9.6° N, 41.9° EHawassa
7.1° N, 38.5° EBahir Dar
11.6° N, 37.4° EGondar
12.6° N, 37.5° EMekelle
13.5° N, 39.5° EJijiga
9.3° N, 42.8° EHistorical El Niño Events in Ethiopia
2015–16 Event
Worst drought in 50 years struck the central and northern highlands, leaving millions in need of emergency food aid.
2023–24 Event
Severe flood deluges overwhelmed lowlands in the Somali Region following intense Indian Ocean and ENSO teleconnections.