• WMO report says North Africa recorded the highest temperature anomaly in 2024

• Rising temperatures, drought, and extreme weather impact food, water, and stability

• Climate-related costs could reach 5% of African GDP, prompting calls for tech upgrades

North Africa is heating up faster than any other part of the continent, worsening hunger, water scarcity, insecurity, and displacement caused by climate change, according to a new report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

The report, titled “State of the Climate in Africa 2024”, notes that North Africa recorded the highest air temperature anomaly near the Earth's surface last year—1.28 °C above the 1991–2020 average. This compares with 0.84 °C for Southern Africa, 0.81 °C for Central Africa, 0.72 °C for Western Africa, 0.68 °C for Eastern Africa, and 0.66 °C for the island nations in the Indian Ocean.

The average surface temperature across Africa was 0.86 °C above the 30-year reference period, making 2024 one of the warmest years on record for the continent. The last ten years were the hottest decade ever recorded, with extreme heat disrupting agriculture, workforce productivity, and education across several African regions in 2024.

Sea surface temperatures also set new records, surpassing those of 2023, especially in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. Nearly the entire oceanic region around Africa was hit by intense, severe, or extreme marine heatwaves, particularly in the tropical Atlantic. Between January and April 2024, about 30 million square kilometers were affected—the largest area recorded since 1993, when satellite monitoring began.

Rainfall patterns were uneven. There was increased rainfall in parts of the Sahel, central and eastern Africa, Seychelles, portions of the Comoros Islands, and parts of Angola. However, abnormally dry conditions persisted in northern Southern Africa and in southwestern Indian Ocean islands, including Madagascar.

This decline in precipitation hurt agricultural yields and electricity production in several regions. In Southern Africa, grain yields dropped 16% below the five-year average. In Zambia, yields were 43% lower, and in Zimbabwe, 50% lower than the five-year average.

In contrast, rains triggered flooding and landslides that killed hundreds of people and displaced more than 700,000 in Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, and other areas of East Africa between March and May 2024.

West and Central Africa also faced devastating floods that affected more than 4 million people, caused hundreds of deaths, and displaced hundreds of thousands. Countries hit hardest included Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon, and the Central African Republic.

The report warns that the economic costs of climate change could reach up to 5% of GDP for many African countries—posing a serious obstacle to development and poverty reduction.

To respond, the WMO recommends that national meteorological and hydrological services strengthen early warning systems and improve predictive capabilities. This includes using the latest advances in digital forecasting tools and artificial intelligence. However, achieving this will require targeted investments in infrastructure, data management, and information-sharing systems, which must be mobilized by governments, development partners, and the private sector.