- The Kenya Meteorological Department warned that several counties should brace for afternoon showers and thunderstorms despite largely sunny intervals
- Counties in the Highlands West of the Rift Valley and the Lake Victoria Basin were projected to wake up to sunny intervals before afternoon storms develop
- In the Highlands East of the Rift Valley, including Nairobi, the weatherman indicated that residents would experience partly cloudy nights and sunny mornings
- The department further cautioned that Turkana and Marsabit counties would face strong winds and intense heat
Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
The Kenya Meteorological Department has urged Kenyans in several counties to prepare for afternoon showers and thunderstorms, even as most parts of the country experience sunny intervals.
Source: UGC
In the daily weather outlook issued on Thursday, February 12, the department indicated that the forecast will run for 24 hours from 9pm.
While the general outlook points to largely sunny conditions across the country, rainfall is expected in a few areas within the Highlands West and East of the Rift Valley.
The weatherman further cautioned residents in parts of Turkana and Marsabit counties to brace for strong southeasterly winds exceeding 25 knots, equivalent to 12.5 metres per second.
What weather is expected in Highlands West, Lake Victoria Basin?
According to the forecast, counties in the Highlands West of the Rift Valley, the Lake Victoria Basin and the Rift Valley region will experience partly cloudy conditions tonight before giving way to mainly sunny intervals in the morning.
However, residents in counties such as Kakamega, Kisumu, Kisii, Nyamira, Migori, Siaya, Homabay, Kericho, Nandi, Bomet, Nakuru, Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot, Uasin Gishu, Trans-Nzoia and Narok should anticipate showers and thunderstorms in a few places during the afternoon hours.
Kisii and Kisumu are among the areas likely to record afternoon storms despite clear morning conditions with Kisii expected to record temperatures of 27°C during the day and 15°C at night.
The lakeside city will record temperature highs of 30°C and lows of 19°C, with thunderstorms forecast later in the day.
Other towns in the region, including Kakamega, Eldoret, Kitale and Nakuru, are expected to remain largely sunny through the day, with maximum temperatures ranging between 26°C and 29°C.
What should Nairobi residents, Highlands East expect?
In the Highlands East of the Rift Valley, including Nairobi county, residents will also experience partly cloudy skies at night, followed by sunny intervals in the morning.
The department projected that the afternoon would remain generally sunny, though showers could occur in a few places, especially over high ground areas.
Counties covered under this region include Nyeri, Murang’a, Kirinyaga, Embu, Meru, Kiambu, Tharaka Nithi, Laikipia, Nyandarua and Nairobi.
The capital, Nairobi, is forecast to record a maximum of 29°C and a minimum of 16°C, with sunny intervals expected throughout much of the day.
In Embu, temperatures will peak at 31°C, with the possibility of showers later in the afternoon, while Nyeri is likely to experience cloudy intervals after a sunny morning.
Source: UGC
In the North Western region, particularly Turkana county, residents have been advised to expect strong southeasterly winds exceeding 25 knots.
Lodwar is projected to be among the hottest towns, with temperatures soaring to 38°C and dropping to 26°C at night.
Similarly, in the North Eastern region, Marsabit county will also face strong winds and sunny intervals for most of the day, including Garissa, Mandera, Wajir and Isiolo.
Garissa, Wajir and Mandera are each expected to record maximum temperatures of 38°C, signalling continued heat in the arid and semi-arid areas.
The South Eastern lowlands, covering Machakos, Makueni, Kitui, Taita Taveta and Kajiado counties, will see partly cloudy conditions tonight before sunny intervals prevail during the day.
At the Coast, counties including Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale, Lamu and Tana River will also experience mainly sunny intervals after a partly cloudy night.
Mombasa is expected to record temperatures of 33°C during the day and 25°C at night, while Lamu will see highs of 31°C.
What is Kenya’s weather outlook for seven days?
Elsewhere, the Kenya Meteorological Department issued its seven-day weather forecast, covering February 10 to 16.
It projected mostly sunny and dry conditions across most of the country, but rainfall was expected in parts of the Central Highlands, Rift Valley, Lake Victoria Basin, Southeastern Lowlands, and Western Kenya.
Kenya Met noted that daytime temperatures could exceed 30°C in the Coast, northeastern, and southeastern regions, while nighttime lows might drop below 10°C in the Highlands, Rift Valley, and areas near Mt Kilimanjaro.
Afternoon and night showers were likely in select areas, with isolated thunderstorms possible in some counties.
Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
