How does the harmattan affect daily life and weather in Niger?

The harmattan is a cool, dry, and dust-laden trade wind that blows southwestward from the Sahara across Niger during January and February.12

Its impact on daily life and weather includes:

• Environmental Conditions: As a desiccating wind, the harmattan creates dry conditions that hinder normal living standards, particularly on the southern fringe of the desert.2
• Temperature Fluctuations: The arrival of this wind can cause significant drops in air temperature, sometimes falling as low as 9 °C (48.2 °F) in parts of western Africa.1
• Visibility and Transport: The wind typically carries large amounts of dust, which can interfere with aircraft operations.1
• Seasonal Transitions: When the harmattan meets southern trade winds blowing from the Atlantic Ocean between April and May, the interaction produces violent line squalls, signaling the onset of the rainy season.12