“Nigerians Ask: Where Did the Harmattan Go? Surprising Climate Changes as Cities Complain of Heat in December 2025 – January 2026” —
**Nigerians Ask: Where Did the Harmattan Go?
Surprising Climate Changes as Cities Complain of Heat in December 2025 – January 2026**
By abijohn.com
As December 2025 turned into January 2026, many Nigerians were left bewildered by the weather — heat instead of the cool, dusty winds of harmattan that traditionally define this season. Across cities from Bauchi to Jos, complaints of unseasonably high temperatures have sparked questions: “Where did the harmattan go?”
The Missing Cold Wind
Harmattan is the dry, dusty northeasterly wind that blows from the Sahara Desert across West Africa between roughly November and March. Historically, these winds bring cooler mornings and evenings, dry air, and a drop in humidity, especially noticeable in northern and central Nigeria. (Wikipedia)
But in December 2025, parts of the country recorded unexpectedly high daytime temperatures. The northern city of Bauchi saw readings above 38°C on Christmas Day, something locals said was unusual for a period typically dominated by cool harmattan winds. (TheCable)
Similarly, Jos — a city known for its cool dry season — experienced daytime temperatures between 34°C and 37°C, prompting residents to say the weather felt nothing like the usual seasonal chill. (The Development Report)
A regional heat alert covering Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon and surrounding areas in late December 2025 also confirmed record-breaking nighttime heat — with night temperatures running *6-7°C above average for weeks. Even highland areas like Jos were far warmer than expected. (National Disaster Management Authority)
What Experts Are Saying
Climatologists and local officials point to changing climate dynamics and atmospheric shifts as reasons for the disturbance of traditional seasonal patterns.
According to climate experts in northern Nigeria, the timing and strength of harmattan depend on the balance between moist monsoon air and dry Saharan air. Rising global temperatures and altered atmospheric circulation have weakened the pressure systems that typically drive the dry harmattan winds southward, making them less predictable and less intense. (Kano Focus)
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has also noted a trend of confusing weather patterns, where swings between heat, cool spells and dust haze blur the conventional seasons. (Punch Newspapers)
Climate Change: A Bigger Picture
Nigeria’s heat isn’t only about one season missing its usual pattern. National climate data show that 2025 is projected to be one of Nigeria’s hottest years on record, with overall rising temperatures linked to global warming trends. (The Guardian Nigeria)
Climate change impacts are not just about heat — they include extreme heat events, disrupted rainfall, drought, and agricultural setbacks affecting food production. Such disruptions reflect broader climatic instability. (TheCable)
Residents’ Reactions
For many Nigerians, the absence of the expected cold early in the dry season has real consequences:
- City dwellers complained about heat that made fans and air conditioners essential even in December, breaking with memories of cool mornings associated with harmattan. (Blueprint)
- Farmers and rural residents worry about erratic seasons disrupting farming calendars. (Kano Focus)
- People reported unusual weather — hot afternoons with dusty evenings — confusing health patterns and comfort levels.
Is Harmattan Really Gone?
Experts caution that harmattan hasn’t disappeared — rather, its intensity, timing and effects are changing. Some years it may come late or with weaker winds; other years it may still deliver cooler mornings but overall temperatures can remain high due to the baseline warming of the atmosphere.
Meteorological history shows that while harmattan traditionally cools the weather, its effects vary widely — daytime heat can still rise above 30°C while nights are much cooler. (Wikipedia)
Conclusion — A Climate in Transition
For Nigerians asking “where did the harmattan go?”, the short answer is that climate change and shifting atmospheric patterns are altering the familiar seasonal rhythms. The strong, predictable cold winds of the past are giving way to unsettled weather — hotter days, delayed dry periods, and unusual heat even in the harmattan months.
For a country where weather affects daily life, agriculture, health, and comfort, this shift is not just meteorological — it’s a stark reminder that the climate itself is changing.
Sources