The Minister of Transport Jean Ernest Massena Ngalle Bibehe warns the populations of the North and Far North regions of the arrival of a dust plume and invites them to take certain precautions.
According to the note from the government member, the dust plume originating in the Sahara desert is progressing towards Cameroon and could affect the North and Far North regions. Driven by north-westerly winds, the phenomenon is subject to a temperature varying between 35 and 40°c. According to forecasts, the dust plume was to enter Cameroon as of February 16 through the Logone and Chari department in the Far North in the evening before spreading to other localities. The Adamawa and East regions could also be affected until Thursday, February 19, 2026.
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The minister indicates that the situation may cause effects on agriculture, transport, and health. He invites residents of the affected areas to take measures such as limiting outdoor activities, wearing a face mask and protective glasses, closing openings, driving carefully, staying hydrated, and consulting weather forecasts. Some of these measures, specifically staying hydrated as much as possible, are already contained in a note from the National Observatory on Climate Change dated February 12.
The Far North regional office has alerted residents to the risks of intensifying drought in the region. With temperatures rising to 40 to 46°c during the day, 25 to 30°c at night, and the concentration of dust in the air. The localities that could be affected are the departments of Mayo-Sava, Mayo-Danay, and Diamare.
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Furthermore, in its meteorological alert bulletin for the ten-day period from February 11 to 20, 2026, Onacc indicated a rise in temperatures up to 42.6°c in the North, Far North, and Adamawa regions. In other regions such as the Littoral, East, Center, South, West, and North-West, the highest temperatures could reach 38.8°c according to forecasts. Due to high temperatures, dusty air, and the predominance of dry and windy conditions, the observatory also warned of the risks of coughs and colds in the three northern regions.
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