A detailed look at the recent drought situation in the Greater Horn of Africa

News reports have described a crisis situation in several countries in the Greater Horn of eastern Africa. Reportedly, drought has prevailed during much of the period 2008-2011, resulting in extreme food shortages and massive migration. This article presents the first detailed meteorological analysis of the situation. The analysis shows that during the years 2008 through 2010 and the first half of 2011 rainfall was 30%-75% below normal over the Horn of Africa, northern Kenya and most of the Sudan. This followed intense drought in 2005/2006. The drought situation became increasingly severe during late 2010 and early 2011, with rainfall being at least 50%-75% below normal in near roughly half of the drought-stricken region. The drought ended in during the last half of 2011, giving way to flood conditions that may have created a more critical situation. During 2012 the situation was mixed, with good adequate rainfall during the summer rainy season but strong deficits during the equatorial rainy seasons of the boreal summer and autumn. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.