harmattan
Sahara's dry breath
A harmattan is a dry, dusty wind that blows from the Sahara across West Africa, typically from late November through March.
It brings hazy skies, cooler temperatures, and very low humidity—a relief from tropical heat but hard on skin and respiratory systems: The harmattan cracked my lips within days of arriving in Ghana.
Semi-arid African transition zone
- SaharaLargest hot desert
- West AfricaContinent's western bulge
- GhanaWest African republic
- NigeriaWest African federal republic
Mali · Senegal · Niger · Burkina Faso · Chad · Cameroon · Benin · Ivory Coast
Direction between two poles
- continentalOf a continent
- desert windArid region airflow
- trade windsReliable equatorial air currents
- siroccoScorching African wind
dry wind · haboob · persistent · steady
Murky atmospheric suspension
- visibilityRange of clear sight
- red skyAtmospherically scattered sunset hue
- particlesMinute pieces of matter
- gritDetermination or abrasive particles
fine sand · silt · dust mask · respiratory · allergies · asthma · eye irritation · coating
Extremely dry or thirsty
- aridDevoid of water
- desiccationComplete removal of moisture
- dehydrationExcessive fluid loss
- chappedSkin rough from dryness
cracked skin · nosebleed · static electricity · withered · brittle · thirst · drought · shea butter
Months with minimal rainfall
- DecemberYear's final month
- JanuaryYear's opening month
- FebruarySecond month, often shortest
- NovemberEleventh month
trade winds · cold nights · temperature drop · anticyclone · high pressure · subtropical · seasonal · clear skies
Uncontrolled wildland blaze
- wildfireUncontrolled vegetation blaze
- fire hazardCombustion danger source
- crop damageHarm to cultivated plants
- respiratory illnessSickness affecting breathing organs
flight delays · paint peeling · static · discomfort · health impact
Sahel
Semi-arid African transition zone
- SaharaLargest hot desert
- West AfricaContinent's western bulge
- GhanaWest African republic
Nigeria · Mali · Senegal · Niger · Burkina Faso · Chad · Cameroon · Benin · Ivory Coast · Guinea
northeast
Direction between two poles
- continentalOf a continent
- desert windArid region airflow
- trade windsReliable equatorial air currents
dry wind · sirocco · haboob · persistent · steady
haze
Murky atmospheric suspension
- visibilityRange of clear sight
- red skyAtmospherically scattered sunset hue
- particlesMinute pieces of matter
grit · fine sand · silt · dust mask · respiratory · allergies · asthma · eye irritation · coating · film
parched
Extremely dry or thirsty
- aridDevoid of water
- desiccationComplete removal of moisture
- dehydrationExcessive fluid loss
chapped · cracked skin · nosebleed · static electricity · withered · brittle · thirst · drought · shea butter · moisturizer
dry season
Months with minimal rainfall
November · trade winds · cold nights · temperature drop · anticyclone · high pressure · subtropical · seasonal · clear skies · fog
bushfire
Uncontrolled wildland blaze
- wildfireUncontrolled vegetation blaze
- fire hazardCombustion danger source
- crop damageHarm to cultivated plants
respiratory illness · flight delays · paint peeling · static · discomfort · health impact