While much of Africa has been roasting, many people in Egypt have spent the past few days shivering.
Temperatures normally drop at this time of year. This time however, they have dropped to zero in some parts, and the cold snap has lasted twice as long as usual.
Cairo experienced very low temperatures of just 4 degrees last week. Around the mountains of Saint Catherine near the Red sea, the temperatures dropped to zero. For Egyptians, that is practically Arctic-type conditions.
Most people in these affected areas are not prepared for the cold. Few homes have insulation while many people are too poor to buy blankets. So, even a short cold snap can create real suffering.
There is still one more cold wave expected in February, but the meteorological authority can not predict precisely how harsh will it be.
