Northern Half

A fresh surge of Harmattan dust originating from northern Africa is expected to affect Ghana, particularly the northern half of the country, beginning early this week. The Upper East and Northeast regions will be the first to experience dry, dusty conditions, with the dust spreading to other parts of the northern sector by midweek. Visibility is expected to drop significantly, ranging between 1 km and 6 km across affected areas. Relative humidity is also anticpated to be low with afternoon RH dropping to below 10% in parts of the sector. The transition zone and parts of the middle sector may also experience milder dusty conditions as the week progresses. Localised rain is still anticipated over parts of Southern Ghana.

Residents in the northern sector are urged to take precautions by wearing nose masks or face coverings when outdoors to avoid inhaling dust particles. Drivers should exercise extreme caution, reduce speed, and use headlights in low-visibility conditions, especially during early morning and late evening hours. Individuals with respiratory conditions such as asthma are advised to keep medication readily available and limit outdoor exposure. Parents should ensure children are adequately protected before heading to school, and households are encouraged to cover water storage containers and food items to prevent dust contamination.