For example, the unusually heavy rainfall in November 1997 in Ethiopia was of little use for food production, because the timing was at the end of the harvest season not suitable for planting. Other studies also support the NMSA's conclusions. Based on the information provided by NMSA, the DPPC was able to disseminate an early warning to users. The main cause of disaster in Ethiopia was drought and no one would be ready to take a forecast of heavy rainfall very seriously. Cold SSTA is strongly associated with deficiency of belg rainfall.
Cold event is associated with heavy kremt rainfall.
Warm SSTA is associated with normal and above normal belg rainfall. Warm SSTA is associated with widespread meteorological drought. SSTA may not be the only cause of drought in Ethiopia. The relationship between Ethiopian weather conditions and all the cycles of the SSTA in the oceans are not yet conclusive, because of limitations in data and the diversity of Ethiopian microclimates. November is typically the driest month in Ethiopia, but it was unusually wet in 1997.