South Sudan has closed schools for the second year in a row due to extreme heat. (Photo: AFP/Getty Images).

IGAD’s Climate Prediction and Application Center (ICPAC) predicts that extreme heat conditions will continue to prevail this month in parts of South Sudan and Kenya where maximum temperatures will hit 40 degrees Celsius.

ICPAC’s heat warning which was first disclosed during the 69th Greater Horn of Africa Climate Outlook Forum (GHACOF 69) and updated on March 6, states that temperatures will negatively affect humans, livestock and socio-economic activities in those countries.

The possible impacts include increased heat stress to outdoor workers, including those preparing farms for the next cropping season, negatively impacting productivity and health.

Others are increased likelihood of wildfires as high temperatures and dry conditions sustain conducive environmental conditions for wildfires.

ICPAC said elevated levels of heat stress are likely to cause dehydration, exhaustion, fainting, and in extreme cases, heat stroke in humans, as well as reduced livestock productivity especially in terms of milk.

The scientific center’s analysis of the observed temperatures last month indicated that most areas in South Sudan, Uganda, northern and western Kenya experienced persistence of extreme temperatures.

Meanwhile, temperatures in several towns in South Sudan may drop below 40 degrees Celsius with partly cloudy conditions from 10th-16th March, according to AccuWeather, a global weather forecasting service.

South Sudan has already announced a two-week closure of all schools which has been extended by another week until March 17 – due to exhausting heat condition affecting Juba and other parts of the country.

The education ministry had clarified that the decision was taken after an average of 12 students were collapsing daily due to heat-related illnesses.

It is the second time South Sudan has closed schools over extreme heat stress, which has been linked to the impact of climate change.

In March 2024, the national government directed the closure of all schools after the Ministry of Environment and Forestry issued an extreme heat advisory – forecasting temperatures varying from 41 to 45 degrees Celsius for weeks.

Many schools in the country are made of makeshift shelters and even the concrete structures do not have air conditioning system.