With climate change bringing about massive change in weather patterns, floods, drought and field fires have occurred in epic proportions. Angola faced torrential rains that caused flooding in northern parts between Tuesday afternoon and Thursday whereby 11 lives were lost, with several more reported missing.

The floods also destroyed about 700 homes, with more than 5,000 properties swept away. The country?s capital Luanda has been badly affected after a month?s worth of rain, 76mm, fell in just over 24 hours. The rains caused widespread traffic disruption in the city, with electricity and drinking water supplies also affected. A school and a church are among the property destroyed by the floods.

Angola has one rainy season which runs from October to April, corresponding to the time when the sun is at its highest. In Luanda, peak rainfall tends to occur in March and April, with 76 and 117mm respectively. For a country which lies to close to the equator, these may seem like low accumulations, but weather along the coastal strip is heavily influenced by the Benguela ocean current.

It is expected that in the next few days, the bulk of the showers will be over central and southern parts of the country, with Luanda province remaining largely dry.

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