HIGHLIGHTS
• The growing season of 2016 in South Sudan started well due to early favourable rainfall, with earlier than average or timely planting across most of Western Equatoria, Greater Bahr-el-Ghazal, northern areas and Upper Nile. In Central Equatoria and some eastern areas of the country, moderate delays were noticed, but without much consequence;
• in April, rainfall performance was largely above average countrywide. This is in line with field reports that are indicating the start of the rainy season in many areas across the country;
• The wetter than average conditions in mid May, led to average to above average vegetation developing along the west, central and north parts of South Sudan;
• Forecasts for the core months of the rainfall season (July to September, see Fig 1 right) for South Sudan and neighbouring areas, point to a high likelihood of above average rainfall, in particular in the eastern half of the country.
