Africa Weather & Natural Hazards Today — Friday, November 13, 2026

By Paul Harrison | Orbis Weather

Published: Friday, November 13, 2026
Coverage: North Africa | West Africa | Central Africa | East Africa | Southern Africa | Madagascar | Southwest Indian Ocean

🌍 Africa Weather Overview: Heavy Rain, Flood Threats, Thunderstorms and Growing El Niño Concerns

Africa enters Friday, November 13, with a complicated weather picture. Heavy rainfall and flooding remain important concerns across parts of Central and East Africa, while Southern Africa faces the combination of rising summer temperatures, developing thunderstorms and potentially dangerous downpours.

Morocco is another region requiring close attention following severe-weather warnings earlier this week. Atlantic weather disturbances have brought the potential for heavy rain, strong winds and flash flooding to parts of the country.

Meanwhile, the strengthening 2026–2027 El Niño is raising longer-term concerns about rainfall patterns, agricultural production, drought and food security.

The World Meteorological Organization has warned that a very strong El Niño can disrupt weather patterns worldwide, increasing the likelihood of extreme rainfall in some regions and drought in others.

🚨 1. Africa’s Main Weather and Natural Hazard Concerns

These are Orbis Weather editorial monitoring priorities, not official meteorological warning levels. They reflect recent reporting, seasonal patterns and potential hazards rather than confirmed active alerts for every location on November 13.

🌧️ 2. North Africa — Morocco Storms and Mediterranean Weather

🇲🇦 Morocco — Flooding concerns following severe-weather warnings

Morocco remains an important location to monitor following a period of unsettled weather associated with Atlantic disturbances moving toward northwest Africa and the western Mediterranean.

Earlier warnings extending into Thursday highlighted the possibility of heavy rainfall, thunderstorms and strong winds.

For Friday, the key question is whether additional rainfall or runoff affects communities already exposed to the earlier disturbances.

Potential hazards include:

• Flash flooding in normally dry riverbeds and drainage channels.

• Dangerous driving conditions in mountainous areas.

• Localized landslides where slopes become saturated.

• Reduced visibility during heavy rain and thunderstorms.

Rainfall can become particularly dangerous in Morocco’s mountainous terrain, where water may move rapidly through narrow valleys.

Friday assessment: Recent severe-weather warnings justify continued monitoring, but a new nationwide Friday warning has not been independently confirmed. Residents should consult Morocco’s General Directorate of Meteorology for the latest provincial alerts.

🇩🇿 Algeria and 🇹🇳 Tunisia

Northern Algeria and Tunisia are entering the season when Mediterranean disturbances become increasingly influential.

Coastal districts and mountainous areas can experience showers, thunderstorms and gusty winds.

Localized flooding remains possible when heavy rainfall develops over urban areas or steep terrain.

Farther inland, drier conditions generally dominate, although strong winds can occasionally produce dust and reduced visibility.

🇪🇬 Egypt and 🇱🇾 Libya

Much of Egypt and Libya typically experiences relatively dry November weather.

However, Mediterranean coastal areas can receive occasional showers, and isolated thunderstorms may produce rapid runoff in normally dry drainage channels.

Desert travelers should also remain aware of blowing dust and sudden reductions in visibility.

North Africa outlook: Morocco’s recent storm threat remains the leading regional concern, while Mediterranean rainfall and localized flooding are the principal hazards to monitor elsewhere.

⛈️ 3. Central Africa — Persistent Tropical Rainfall and Flooding

Central Africa remains one of the continent’s most flood-sensitive regions during November.

Moist tropical air, frequent thunderstorms and saturated ground can combine to produce dangerous flooding even without a named tropical storm.

🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo

Eastern DR Congo remains particularly vulnerable to rainfall-related natural hazards.

Mountainous terrain increases the risk of landslides, while intense thunderstorms can cause rivers and streams to rise quickly.

The main concerns include flooding in low-lying communities, landslides on unstable slopes, road washouts and damage to agricultural land.

Communities near steep hillsides should be especially cautious following consecutive days of rainfall.

Across the wider Congo Basin, thunderstorms can also produce lightning, intense downpours and localized urban flooding.

🇨🇲 Cameroon

Southern Cameroon remains exposed to persistent tropical rainfall.

Heavy downpours can overwhelm drainage systems, particularly in densely populated urban areas.

Rivers and smaller waterways may respond rapidly when rainfall accumulates over several days.

Rural transport routes can become difficult to use when unpaved roads are saturated.

🇨🇬 Republic of the Congo and 🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea

Both countries remain vulnerable to intense equatorial rainfall.

Flooding risks are greatest in low-lying settlements, near rivers and in areas with inadequate drainage.

Repeated rainfall can increase the likelihood of flooding even when individual thunderstorms are relatively short-lived.

🇬🇦 Gabon and 🇨🇫 Central African Republic

Seasonal thunderstorms remain an important consideration.

Heavy rain, lightning and reduced visibility can disrupt travel and outdoor activities.

Central Africa outlook: Flooding and landslides remain the principal natural hazards. The most important developments to monitor are additional rainfall, river levels and ground saturation.

🌊 4. East Africa — Kenya Rainfall, Flood Risks and Uneven Seasonal Conditions

East Africa continues through the October–December rainy season, although conditions vary significantly between countries and even neighboring districts.

A Kenyan weather report published November 10 described a forecast for rainfall across 40 counties, including Nairobi, Nakuru, Narok, Kericho and areas around Lake Victoria. The report also identified strong-wind concerns in three counties. That forecast covered an earlier period and should not be treated as a confirmed November 13 warning.

🇰🇪 Kenya — Thunderstorms and localized flooding

Kenya remains one of the most important countries to monitor during the short-rains season.

Areas requiring attention include Nairobi and surrounding urban districts, western Kenya, the Rift Valley highlands and communities near Lake Victoria.

Heavy thunderstorms can produce rapid surface flooding, particularly where drainage systems are inadequate.

Lightning also presents a significant hazard to people working outdoors, traveling on open roads or using small boats.

Rainfall can be highly localized, meaning one district may experience heavy downpours while another remains comparatively dry.

🇸🇴 Somalia — River flooding and drought vulnerability

Somalia continues to face the challenge of rainfall variability.

The Juba and Shabelle river systems remain important monitoring locations because rainfall upstream in Ethiopia can influence water levels farther downstream.

Potential impacts from flooding include damaged farmland, isolated communities, contaminated drinking-water supplies and disrupted transport.

However, seasonal vulnerability does not establish that either river is currently flooding.

Drought and water shortages also remain important longer-term concerns in vulnerable areas.

🇪🇹 Ethiopia

Southern Ethiopia is within a period when seasonal rainfall can affect agriculture, transport and water supplies.

Mountainous areas remain vulnerable to landslides and flash flooding during intense rainfall.

Elsewhere, rainfall deficits can affect grazing conditions and agricultural productivity.

🇺🇬 Uganda, 🇷🇼 Rwanda and 🇧🇮 Burundi

The Great Lakes region remains susceptible to thunderstorms and localized flooding.

Mountainous areas of Rwanda and Burundi are especially vulnerable to landslides when heavy rainfall saturates the ground.

Lake Victoria presents additional risks from sudden thunderstorms, lightning and strong winds.

🇸🇸 South Sudan

South Sudan continues to face serious water-management challenges.

Low-lying areas and wetlands remain vulnerable to inundation, while other districts may experience rainfall deficits.

These contrasting conditions can affect food production, transportation and access to essential services.

🇹🇿 Tanzania

Northern and western Tanzania are entering an important seasonal rainfall period.

Thunderstorms may affect the Lake Victoria region, northern highlands and surrounding communities.

Localized flooding, lightning and dangerous conditions on exposed roads and waterways remain important hazards.

East Africa outlook: Kenya’s seasonal thunderstorms, flooding vulnerability around the Great Lakes, Somalia’s river systems and uneven rainfall across the Horn of Africa remain key monitoring priorities.

🔥 5. Southern Africa — South African Heatwave and Fire Danger

Southern Africa is experiencing an increasingly active summer weather pattern, with heat, thunderstorms and uneven rainfall creating contrasting hazards.

🇿🇦 South Africa — Heatwave extends into Friday

One of the clearest documented weather concerns for November 13 is South Africa’s ongoing heatwave.

The South African Weather Service issued an advisory for persistently high temperatures extending into Friday across parts of the Northern Cape, North West, Free State, Gauteng and Limpopo.

The November 12 forecast also highlighted extremely high fire danger across substantial portions of the Northern Cape and selected districts of the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State and North West.

Principal hazards:

• Heat exhaustion and dehydration during prolonged outdoor activity.

• Increased wildfire danger where vegetation is dry.

• Afternoon thunderstorms across parts of eastern South Africa.

• Lightning and localized flooding where thunderstorms intensify.

The heatwave is especially important for outdoor workers, elderly residents and communities with limited access to cooling.

The fire-danger areas reported for Thursday should be reassessed against Friday’s official warnings rather than assumed to remain unchanged.

🇸🇿 Eswatini

Eswatini remains vulnerable to summer thunderstorms and localized flooding.

Mountainous terrain can intensify runoff, making low-water crossings and steep roads particularly hazardous during heavy rainfall.

🇲🇿 Mozambique

Mozambique is entering its summer rainfall season, with thunderstorms becoming increasingly important across central and northern districts.

The approaching cyclone season also requires coastal preparedness, particularly in communities exposed to flooding and storm surge.

🇿🇼 Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe’s developing rainy season is critical for agriculture.

Farmers are watching the arrival and distribution of sustained rainfall, while early-season thunderstorms can bring damaging winds, hail and localized flooding.

🇿🇲 Zambia and 🇲🇼 Malawi

Seasonal rainfall is becoming increasingly important for farming and water resources.

Thunderstorms can cause sudden flooding in low-lying areas, particularly around streams and poorly drained roads.

🇧🇼 Botswana and 🇳🇦 Namibia

Heat, dry vegetation and variable rainfall remain the principal concerns.

Strong winds and low humidity can increase fire danger, while isolated thunderstorms may produce brief but intense rainfall.

Southern Africa outlook: South Africa’s documented heatwave is the most immediate concern. Thunderstorms, flooding potential and the developing summer rainfall season remain important across neighboring countries.

☀️ 6. West Africa — Heat, Dust and Agricultural Concerns

West Africa continues its seasonal transition toward drier conditions, particularly across the Sahel.

🇳🇬 Nigeria

Northern Nigeria is moving into its dry season, when heat, dust and reduced visibility become increasingly important.

Southern districts may continue experiencing occasional showers and thunderstorms, although rainfall generally becomes less widespread as November progresses.

🇬🇭 Ghana, 🇨🇮 Côte d’Ivoire and 🇱🇷 Liberia

Rainfall deficits remain an agricultural concern in parts of the Gulf of Guinea region.

Below-average rainfall can reduce soil moisture, affect crop development and increase pressure on local water supplies.

However, rainfall deficits are not equivalent to an officially declared drought, and conditions can vary considerably between districts.

🇸🇳 Senegal, 🇬🇲 The Gambia and the Sahel

Seasonal drying continues across Senegal, The Gambia, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso and Chad.

Heat, dust and dry vegetation become increasingly important during this transition.

Dust can affect road visibility and respiratory health, while dry vegetation increases vulnerability to fires.

West Africa outlook: Seasonal heat, dust and agricultural conditions remain the main monitoring priorities.

🌀 7. Madagascar and the Southwest Indian Ocean — Cyclone Season Outlook

The Southwest Indian Ocean cyclone season is underway, bringing renewed attention to Madagascar, Mauritius, Réunion, Mozambique and surrounding island communities.

Météo-France’s October 28 seasonal outlook predicts a greater likelihood of below-normal cyclone activity during 2026–2027, partly associated with the unusually strong El Niño.

Météo-France also reported that Tropical Storm Agueda had already been monitored during the early part of the season.

The forecast suggests potentially reduced cyclone impacts for Madagascar and Mozambique, while the Mascarene Islands could experience risks closer to normal.

A quieter-than-average season does not eliminate the possibility of a destructive cyclone.

November 13 cyclone status: No active cyclone position, intensity or landfall forecast has been independently verified for this edition. Readers should consult the latest operational bulletins from Météo-France La Réunion.

🌋 8. Earthquakes, Volcanoes and Geological Hazards

Africa’s natural hazards extend beyond weather.

The East African Rift System remains one of the continent’s most geologically active regions, stretching through parts of Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and the Great Lakes region.

Earthquake monitoring

Earthquakes may occur along active faults throughout the East African Rift.

However, no specific significant earthquake magnitude, location or damage report has been independently confirmed for November 13 in this edition.

Volcanic monitoring

Volcanoes requiring ongoing scientific monitoring include Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Erta Ale in Ethiopia and Ol Doinyo Lengai in Tanzania.

Their inclusion does not mean new eruptions have been confirmed today.

Readers can check the USGS Earthquake Map and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program for updated observations.

🌡️ 9. El Niño 2026–2027 — Africa’s Longer-Term Climate Challenge

The developing El Niño remains a major concern for African agriculture, food security and water management.

The World Meteorological Organization warned in October that a very strong El Niño can disrupt rainfall patterns and increase the risk of extreme weather worldwide.

Potential African impacts include:

• East Africa: Greater rainfall variability, with flooding possible in some districts and water shortages in others.

• Southern Africa: Uncertainty over seasonal rainfall, planting conditions and agricultural productivity.

• Central Africa: Continued exposure to intense tropical rainfall and flooding.

• West Africa: Agricultural vulnerability associated with rainfall deficits and seasonal heat.

El Niño does not affect every African country in the same way, and seasonal forecasts should not be interpreted as guarantees of specific local events.

FEWS NET continues monitoring the potential consequences for food security, agriculture and livelihoods.

📅 10. Africa Weather Outlook — November 13–15, 2026

This is a regional hazard-monitoring outlook based on recent forecasts and seasonal conditions, not a verified daily forecast for every African country.

🛟 11. Weather Safety and Preparedness

Flooding: Never drive through floodwater or attempt to cross swollen rivers. Water may conceal damaged roads or strong currents.

Thunderstorms: Seek shelter indoors when thunder is heard. Avoid exposed hillsides, open water and isolated trees.

Extreme heat: Drink water regularly, reduce strenuous outdoor activity during the hottest hours and check on vulnerable people.

Wildfires: Avoid outdoor burning during high fire-danger conditions and follow local emergency instructions.

Tropical cyclones: Review evacuation routes, prepare emergency supplies and follow official cyclone bulletins.

Landslides: Be alert for fresh cracks, leaning trees, unusual ground movement and rapidly increasing runoff on steep slopes.

📚 12. Sources and Editorial Methodology

This report combines recent meteorological forecasts, published weather advisories, seasonal climate assessments and established geographical hazard information.

Primary meteorological and scientific sources

• Kenya Meteorological Department — Seven-day forecast covering November 10–16, 2026.

• South African Weather Service — Heatwave, thunderstorm and fire-weather information.

• Météo-France La Réunion — Southwest Indian Ocean tropical cyclone monitoring and seasonal outlook.

• World Meteorological Organization — El Niño and global climate assessments.

• FEWS NET — Food-security and agroclimatic monitoring.

• USGS Earthquake Hazards Program — Earthquake monitoring.

• Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program — Volcanic activity.

Verification and limitations

This edition distinguishes between confirmed published warnings, forecasts of possible hazards, typical seasonal conditions and longer-term climate risks.

The South African heatwave forecast extends into November 13, and Kenya’s weekly rainfall forecast covers the same date. Other regional discussions may rely on earlier hazard assessments or seasonal climatology.

Where an updated official warning, observed rainfall total, cyclone position or earthquake report could not be independently confirmed, it has not been presented as a verified event.

This article is intended for public weather awareness and does not replace official forecasts, emergency warnings or evacuation instructions.

🌍 13. Africa Weather — Final Summary for Friday, November 13, 2026

Africa faces contrasting weather hazards as November progresses.

South Africa’s heatwave is a particularly important immediate concern, with high temperatures affecting several provinces and recent warnings highlighting dangerous fire-weather conditions.

Kenya remains under a broader period of seasonal rainfall, with thunderstorms and localized flooding possible across several regions.

Central Africa continues to face significant flood vulnerability, particularly around the Congo Basin and eastern DR Congo.

Morocco requires continued monitoring following recent severe-weather warnings, while West Africa is transitioning toward hotter, drier conditions.

Across Madagascar and the Southwest Indian Ocean, cyclone-season preparedness remains important despite forecasts favoring below-normal activity.

Above all, the strengthening El Niño is introducing further uncertainty into rainfall patterns, agriculture and water availability across the continent.

Orbis Weather will continue monitoring Africa’s storms, floods, droughts, tropical cyclones, earthquakes, volcanoes and other natural hazards as new verified information becomes available.

Reporting and analysis by Paul Harrison for Orbis Weather.