The Kenya Meteorological Department has predicted that half of the country will experience a mix of chilly weather and light rains over the next five days, lasting until Monday. This forecast indicates overcast skies and cool breezes moving from western Kenya to central regions, including much of the Rift Valley.
“Rainfall is expected to continue in various areas across the highlands east and west of the Rift Valley, the Central Rift Valley, and northwestern Kenya,” stated Kennedy Thiong’o, deputy director of the meteorological department.
The affected areas west of the Rift Valley include counties such as Siaya, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Migori, and several others. Meanwhile, the highlands east of the Rift Valley encompass regions like Nairobi, Nyandarua, and Meru.
Nighttime temperatures may drop as low as eight degrees Celsius. “Intermittent cool and cloudy conditions are anticipated over parts of the highlands and the southeastern lowlands,” Thiong’o added.
In contrast, the northeastern counties, including Marsabit and Mandera, will experience hotter conditions, with daytime temperatures reaching up to 37 degrees.
Additionally, global weather networks have announced that the anticipated La Niña phenomenon is now expected to delay, likely beginning towards the end of the year. La Niña typically brings drier-than-usual weather to Kenya. The US Climate Prediction Centre has indicated that the current neutral phase between La Niña and El Niño will persist for several months, with a 70% chance of La Niña emerging between August and October.
Kenya last faced La Niña from 2020 to 2023, a prolonged event that resulted in severe drought conditions. While the World Meteorological Organization has suggested that La Niña may develop from August, it cautioned that this does not guarantee drought conditions in East Africa, as the effects vary based on numerous climatic factors.
The Kenya Meteorological Department has yet to comment on the latest updates from the World Meteorological Organization, which synthesizes weather models from various regions.
