The Kenya Meteorological Department has announced that several parts of Kenya are expected to receive rainfall this week as the October-December short rains season gets underway. According to the department, light to moderate rainfall is expected in parts of 47 counties, including Nairobi, Mombasa, Kiambu, Nakuru, Kisumu, Kakamega, Machakos, Kajiado, Meru, Nyeri, Turkana, Garissa, and Mandera.
Isolated storms are expected in parts of Mandera, Wajir, and Marsabit counties, as well as Tana River and Kilifi. The Met Department warned that the storms in these areas may lead to flash floods. It also forecast strong southerly to southeasterly winds of above 25 knots, equivalent to 12.5 meters per second, over parts of Turkana, Samburu, and Marsabit counties.
The October-November-December short rains season results from the Intertropical Convergence Zone migrating southwards across East Africa, bringing with it increased moisture and convection. The department said the Indian Ocean Dipole, El Niño-Southern Oscillation, and other intraseasonal weather systems influence the duration and intensity of rainfall during October.
Nyeri County is among the counties expected to experience the first showers of the October-November-December rains towards the end of this week. Nyeri County Kenya Meteorological Services Authority Director Peter Wambugu told KNA there is a high likelihood of the county experiencing the first showers of the rains towards the end of this week before its intensity increases in the coming week.
According to the Kenya Meteorological Services Authority, much of the rain will start falling from the second and third weeks of October and will continue until January next year. Wambugu clarified that the authority is not issuing any advisory to farmers on what type of crops to put in their lands during this season, as this responsibility has been left to agricultural extension officers.
The Kenya Meteorological Department has released the October-November-December weather outlook, predicting that most parts of the country will experience above-average rains. Only the county of Turkana and a few parts of West Pokot, Samburu, and Marsabit are predicted to receive near-average rainfall during this season. Mean temperatures are expected to be warmer than average throughout the country.
Above-average rainfall is expected in Makueni, Kajiado, Machakos, Nairobi, Kiambu, Kirinyaga, Isiolo, Nyandarua, Nyeri, and parts of Taita Taveta, Laikipia, Tana River, Garissa, Wajir, Marsabit, and Narok counties. The report has also outlined potential impacts of the October rains on both man and the environment.
Key points
- The October-November-December short rains season is expected to bring increased moisture and convection to Kenya.
- Light to moderate rainfall is expected in parts of 47 counties, including Nairobi, Mombasa, and Nyeri.
- The Kenya Meteorological Department has predicted above-average rains for most parts of the country during the October-November-December season.
