| Abstract |
The 2024/25 rainfall year was highly anticipated after a prolonged drought in much of southern Africa (SASSCAL 2024). By the end of December 2024, the Standardised Precipitation Index (SPI) suggested that much of southern Africa, was still suffering from continued drought conditions, despite generally normal rainfall conditions for the first quarter of the rainfall year (WMO 2012)(SASSCAL 2024).
By February 2025, La Niña conditions brought much needed relief to Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe . In February 2025, according to the CHIRPS 3.0 satellite data product, Botswana had the highest February rainfall recorded since 1981, causing heavy flooding and the tragic loss of life. At least 5 000 people were displaced in Botswana and KwaZulu-Natal of South Africa by the flooding, caused by heavy downpours.
The 2024/25 rainfall year started in October 2024 and ended at the end of September 2025. The SPI of the rainfall year suggests that, despite the La Niña conditions and heavy periodical downpours, most of southern Africa experienced normal rainfall conditions for the rainfall year. Most of Botswana, southern Zimbabwe and parts of north-eastern South Africa had a very wet to extremely wet year, while northern Namibia experienced a moderately wet year.
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