The Harmattan is the dry, dusty northeasterly wind that blows from the Sahara across West Africa.
It usually occurs during the Northern Hemisphere winter, when high pressure over the Sahara drives continental air toward the lower-pressure Gulf of Guinea. The wind can reduce visibility, dry vegetation and irritate eyes and lungs because of its suspended dust.
The Harmattan is not the same as the sirocco, which generally refers to winds carrying Saharan air northward across the Mediterranean. Its name is associated with languages of the West African coast, including Akan usage.
The wind also transports mineral dust far beyond the desert, sometimes affecting aviation, solar power and air quality in cities such as Accra and Lagos.