In the US, our focus has been on the damages left behind after hurricanes wreaked havoc: Helene in North Carolina and Tennessee, and now Milton in Florida. Residents in the affected areas are working through flooding and recovering from the devastation. Meanwhile, in Africa, the Sahara Desert is battling flood conditions for the first time in 30 to 50 years!
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Typically, one of the driest places on Earth, the Sahara Desert flooding stems from greater rainfall. Experts state that the unprecedented fall rains result from a less volatile hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean. However, many skeptics question this theory, and the cause of the heavy rainfall in the desert remains a mystery.
The rains started in September, with a deluge during the first week of the month. Images from August and September show the result of this initial rainfall.
After the initial September rainfall, you can see the areas of hydration in a September image.
The September rainfall rehydrated the area and replenished underground aquifers. With the ground at saturation levels, additional rains in October caused the Sahara Desert to flood at levels not seen for decades. In a viral post on TikTok, user skylietravels shows the raging flood waters rushing across the desert sands.
Extratropical Storms Contributed To Sahara Desert Flood
The rainfall within the past two months is more than what usually falls throughout the year. Summer rains are not unusual. However, the precipitation so late in the year may cause weather issues for the next several years. Meteorologists are calling the late summer rain “extratropical storms.”
No one expects Biblical-level flooding, but the Sahara Desert flood is worth monitoring. Lakes that have been dry for years are now overflowing with accumulated water. The area may still suffer from drought, but these rainfalls have helped by refilling barren reservoirs. Overall, the area needed water, but they could have done without the damage caused by the deluge.
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