A study by World Weather Attribution, which analysed the heavy rainfall that caused severe flooding in parts of South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, showed that the region experienced a year’s worth of rain in a period of 10 days. It was also compounded by the current La Nina weather phenomenon which naturally brings wetter conditions in the southern Africa region and is now operating within a much warmer atmosphere. Around 1.3 million people across southern Africa were affected by this month’s floods, The World Health Organisation said. Tete Province, Mozambique, was badly hit (AP)The affected regions in southern Africa are no strangers to heavy downpours and flooding, but scientists were alarmed by the magnitude of the recent events. “This event was a surprise to us because we have experienced the previous ones 25 years ago, which flooded the same areas,” said Bernardino Nhantumbo, a researcher with the Mozambique weather service.

Source: The Times January 30, 2026 00:10 UTC