2009 West Africa floods

[7][8][9] Countries in West Africa and the southern Sahel get most of their annual rainfall during the boreal summer months from June to September.

[10] The exceptionally heavy rainfall experienced in West Africa during the 2009 monsoon season is associated with the periodic warming of the Pacific Ocean, a phenomenon known as El Niño, which affects weather worldwide.

[1][2] In the south of the country, the Bagre Dam had to open its main gate as water reached maximum safety levels on 4 September.

The resulting increase in water flow is threatening large areas along the shores of the Volta river in southern Burkina Faso and northern Ghana.

[1] Flash floods, following 4 days of intense rainfall in Niger's northern Aïr Mountains affected 3,500 homes in Agadez and surrounding areas, causing 2 deaths, and losses in livestock and crops.