The Disaster Risk Management Commission has issued a national flood alert covering the October‑to‑January Bega season, highlighting the threat of heavy rainfall, flash floods and unseasonal rains across several regions.

Seasonal forecasts from the Ethiopian Meteorological Institute indicate that areas normally receiving Bega rains are likely to see normal to above‑normal precipitation, with the highest probabilities in southern Ethiopia.

The bulletin warns that the outlook raises flood risks for communities along rivers, in low‑lying zones, and in cities with limited drainage capacity.

Early warning is presented as a key tool to give authorities and residents in flood‑prone areas sufficient time to prepare and take protective measures.

The forecast points to especially intense rainfall in Sidama, parts of southern Oromia, most of the Somali region and other southern districts, where flash floods are expected in isolated pockets.

Unseasonal rains are also projected for northern, northeastern, eastern and central Ethiopia during October and November, potentially jeopardising agricultural activities as the main rainy season draws to a close.

The flood warning arrives amid a broader climate picture shaped by El Niño, where excessive rain coexists with severe drought and water shortages, prompting the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation to request $50 million to aid 4.66 million Ethiopians facing food insecurity.

Drought‑related impacts include widespread livestock deaths in Afar’s Kori district, crop failures in southeastern Tigray, and declining reservoir levels that threaten the hydropower‑dependent electricity system.

The commission urged communities, government bodies, humanitarian agencies and other stakeholders to translate the forecast into concrete preparedness, early action and response activities to protect lives and property.