New WMO Report Reveals 3,000 Lives Lost to Climate Extremes in Africa Amid Accelerating Environmental Crisis
By PATRICK MAYO
According to a new report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), climate-related extreme weather events affected at least 13 million people and resulted in over 3,000 deaths across Africa in 2025, with far-reaching consequences for economies and societies. Only 40% of African countries currently operate multi-hazard early warning systems, which are critical for saving lives and protecting livelihoods.
Despite these challenges, improved collaboration between meteorological services, disaster management agencies, and local authorities has strengthened preparedness and response capabilities. Advances in climate services, including seasonal forecasts, are also contributing to better resilience.
The State of the Climate in Africa 2025 report provides a comprehensive regional assessment, offering authoritative data on climate indicators, impacts, and risks. It draws on contributions from experts, National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, climate centers, and UN partners.
Africa is warming faster than the global average, with a warming rate since 1991 significantly exceeding that of any prior 30-year period. In 2025, land surface temperatures ranked between the third and seventh warmest on record, approximately 0.51°C above the 1991–2020 average. North Africa recorded the highest temperature anomalies, particularly along Algeria and Tunisia’s Mediterranean coasts, while Southern Africa reported the lowest anomaly at +0.21°C. Africa’s glaciers have shrunk by over 90% since the 19th century, with Mount Kilimanjaro’s ice cover declining from 11.4 km² in 1900 to less than 1 km² today.
Ocean warming persists, with widespread marine heatwaves. While 2025 saw lower ocean heat content and sea-surface temperatures than the 2023 and 2024 peaks, levels remain historically high. Ocean acidification continues, with record-low surface pH observed across most regions.
Sea-level rise along African coasts surpassed the global average of 3.6 mm/year, reaching 4.2 mm/year on the Atlantic coast, 5.2 mm/year in the Indian Ocean, and 5.6 mm/year in the Red Sea. These changes threaten coastal ecosystems and communities.
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Floods dominated extreme weather events, claiming over 360 lives in Nigeria’s May floods and 160 in Democratic Republic of the Congo’s April floods. The 2024/2025 South Indian Ocean cyclone season was notably active, while East Africa faced drought impacting 8.5 million people.
WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo emphasized, “The signs of a changing climate are clear across Africa—from rising temperatures and seas to destructive floods and drought. This report underscores the urgency of early warnings and coordinated action to protect lives and livelihoods.”
Climate trends reveal mixed precipitation patterns. The Sahel experienced above-normal rainfall for a second consecutive year, while East Africa faced below-average rainfall in both long and short seasons. North Africa’s coastal regions saw initial improvements after years of drought, though some areas remained affected. Southern Africa noted increased precipitation intensity.
Since mid-century, Africa’s rainfall trends show a dominant decline in mean precipitation, though the Sahel region experienced more intense rainfall from 1980–2010.
North Africa faces increasing aridity and droughts, with unprecedented eastern Mediterranean drought extremes. Glacial melt continues threatening regional water systems and triggering hazards like glacial lake outburst floods. Mount Kenya and Mount Kilimanjaro’s ice fields have shrunk dramatically since 1906–2021, underscoring accelerated environmental changes.
The report highlights three case studies from Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa, illustrating impacts and future outlooks. Over 50 countries have committed to the UN’s Early Warnings for All initiative, though fewer than 40% of African nations report adequate preparedness and response capabilities, according to the latest Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (MHEWS) assessment.
2025 began and ended with weak La Niña conditions, influencing regional precipitation. While the Sahel and most of Southern Africa received above-normal rainfall, East Africa’s islands and the Horn of Africa faced below-average precipitation.
Above-normal annual precipitation was recorded in most of Southern Africa, though East Africa islands experienced below-normal rainfall.
