NADFOR Produces Drought Monthly Bulletin in Collaboration with Shaqodoon through Funding of Oxfam. This drought monthly report is collected by CBDRMcommittees with support of focal persons, who monitor key indicators of drought early warning. Targeting villages:  Balanbaal, Ceelcadde, Dhoomo, Il-Libaah, Huluul, Faraguul, Dhoobo-Cantuug, Gawseweyne, Shiisha and Tuur-B.

 The Key Early Warning indicators include:

1. Rainfall, 
2. Water level
3. Pasture Availability, 
4. Market condition and Terms of trade
5. Emergency  message recorded

Weather patterns and seasonal calendar in the country

Four main seasons characterize the seasonal weather patterns in Sanaag region as in the case of other [parts of the country: Two rainy seasons and two dry seasons. The seasons are largely determined by shifts in wind patterns from Indian Ocean (a southerly air stream) and from Asia and Arabia(north-easterly winds) .The main rains fall during the Gu-season(April-June) with lighter and more sporadic rains falling during the Deyr season ( October –December).

 

Rainfall levels during these two seasons determine water and pasture availability for livestock ,and as a result, animal body conditions ( and value),reproductive rates and milk availability.

In other words, there are two dry seasons which are characterized by one shorter, cooler season, known as the Hagaa (22^nd July to 23^rd September and a long, hot dry season, known as the Jilaal (January to 23th March), which is the harshest season of the year. During the dry season, livestock migrate to areas where better water and pasture are still available.

 

In addition to these four main seasons, particular weather systems occur of the country. The western regions of Somaliland receive Karan rains between July and August, which allow agro-pastoralists to practice a karam harvest. Guban coastal strip receives Xays rains during the colder months of December and January, attracting pastoralists from high land areas (Agropastoral and Golis mountainous zones) to the coast as pasture improve.