Extreme rainfall inundates South Africa and Mozambique

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 2 min read 100% complete by Ishani Mistry and Ollie LewisJanuary 16, 2026 at 11:16 AM

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Northeastern South Africa and Mozambique are experiencing severe flooding due to exceptionally heavy rainfall driven by a slow-moving cut-off low pressure system. Some areas have received hundreds of millimeters of rain, leading to widespread flooding, infrastructure damage, and road closures. Kruger National Park has been closed, and evacuations have taken place. The South African weather service has issued its highest flood warning, with further heavy rainfall expected. The prolonged wet weather, with some regions receiving twice their average annual rainfall since October 2025, is disrupting agriculture and causing displacement of wildlife. Meanwhile, North America experienced record warmth in January, with temperatures 10-15C above normal in many areas of the US and Canada.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

North America ×340% Limpopo 50% Eswatini 50% Maputo 60% Graskop 60% Phalaborwa 60% Kruger National Park 60% Mpumalanga ×270% South African Weather Service 70% Mozambique ×280% South Africa ×490%

Keywords

extreme rainfall 100% flooding 90% south africa 80% mozambique 70% cut-off low pressure system 60% record warmth 50% infrastructure damage 50% north america 40% supply chains 40%