By Nformi Sonde Kinsai
The National Observatory on Climate Change (NOCC) has issued an information note regarding the rainfall recorded in early February 2026, a period that typically coincides with the peak of the dry season in Cameroon.
The NOCC, headed by its General Manager, Prof. Joseph Armathé Amougou, released the note earlier this week, stating that since early January 2026 the southern part of the country has experienced sporadic rainfall, despite this being the height of the dry season.
The Observatory recalled that it had forecast the rains in its seasonal bulletin covering December 2025, January and February 2026, as well as in its recent 10-day (dekadal) bulletins, notably the 250th edition covering 1–10 February 2026.
According to the NOCC, the bulletin clearly indicated the likelihood of sporadic rainfall of moderate to heavy intensity across the southern regions. “These forecasts were confirmed by the rainfall events of 3 and 4 February 2026, during which several localities, including Yaoundé, Bertoua, Ebolowa, Douala, Eseka, Mbalmayo, Limbe, Baham, Bamenda and Bafoussam, recorded heavy rainfall. Tragically, these rains caused loss of life, notably in Paki village (East Region), as well as significant material damage,” the note stated.
The Observatory emphasised that the rains do not mark the effective onset of the rainy season anywhere in Cameroon. Rather, it explained that the precipitation reflects a disturbance in the global climate system linked to the current cooling of the equatorial Pacific Ocean, a phenomenon known as La Niña.
“Studies conducted by the NOCC, together with other national researchers, indicate that La Niña years are generally associated with increased rainfall during the rainy season, as well as more frequent and intense sporadic rainfall during the dry season, particularly in the southern part of the country,” the note explained.
Climatologists further stated that, regarding the cold conditions observed during the period, the ten-day bulletin for 1–10 February 2026 had forecast lower-than-normal minimum temperatures in many localities, ranging from 17 to 21°C, with marked diurnal temperature variations of 5 to 10°C.
The Observatory also noted that its forecasts for 9–12 February and 14–16 February indicate that additional sporadic rainfall of moderate intensity, accompanied by cold spells, may still occur in some southern localities.
The information note further announced that by the end of February, the NOCC will publish its 34th seasonal bulletin outlining climate parameters for March, April and May 2026, alongside the 2026 agricultural calendar for the first cropping season in the southern part of the country, with particular attention to the effective onset dates of the rains.
