Dry Spell, Cold Nights- Kenya Met's Weather Forecast For Nairobi & Other Regions

The Kenya Meteorological Department (Kenya Met) has issued a comprehensive weather update, indicating significant changes in temperature and rainfall patterns across the country.

On Tuesday, Kenya Met revealed that Mombasa, Nairobi, Kisumu, and other major towns are expected to experience a spike in temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius.

High daytime temperatures will be felt in most parts of the Coast, North-eastern, and North-western Kenya, with the hottest regions being Daddab, Lamu, Kilifi, and parts of Kwale County.

Conversely, the Central Highlands will experience low night-time temperatures dropping below 10 degrees Celsius, particularly affecting Nakuru, parts of Nairobi, Machakos, Murang’a, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Meru, and Tharaka Nithi.

A view of Murang'a County as taken on May 4, 2024. /MARVIN CHEGE.VIRAL TEA KE

Following two months of intense downpours, several parts of Kenya will transition to sunny and dry conditions. However, intermittent and isolated heavy rainfall events will still occur in Central Highlands, Western Kenya, and the Rift Valley.

A detailed regional forecast for the period from May 14 to 20, 2024 outlines that the Highlands West of the Rift Valley, the Lake Victoria Basin, and the Rift Valley (including counties such as Kisii, Nyamira, Nandi, Kericho, Bomet, Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma, Siaya, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Busia, Migori, Narok, Baringo, Nakuru, Trans-Nzoia, Uasin-Gishu, Elgeyo-Marakwet, and West-Pokot) will experience sunny intervals in the morning with light rains in a few places, afternoon showers and thunderstorms, and partly cloudy nights with occasional showers.

In North-western Kenya (Turkana and Samburu counties), sunny intervals are expected during the day with partly cloudy nights.

The Highlands East of the Rift Valley, including Nairobi County (Nyandarua, Laikipia, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Murang’a, Kiambu, Meru, Embu, Tharaka-Nithi, and Nairobi counties), will have cloudy mornings breaking into sunny intervals and occasional afternoon and night showers.

North-eastern Kenya (Marsabit, Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, and Isiolo counties) will see sunny intervals during the day and partly cloudy nights.

The southeastern lowlands (Machakos, Kitui, Makueni, Kajiado, and Taita-Taveta counties) are expected to have sunny intervals during the day and partly cloudy nights. The Coast (Mombasa, Tana-River, Kilifi, Lamu, and Kwale counties) will experience sunny intervals during the day and partly cloudy nights, with occasional morning and afternoon showers in a few places.

Recent weather observations reveal that comparing the periods from April 29 to May 5 and May 6-12, 2024, there was an increase in rainfall over the Coast and a decrease in other parts of the country.

Daytime temperatures rose in stations like Lodwar, Kakamega, and Kericho, while they fell in Voi, Mombasa, and Mtwapa. Night-time temperatures generally decreased across most regions, with exceptions in Lodwar, Kitale, and Suba.

Mandera recorded the highest daily maximum temperature of 37.3°C on May 10, 2024, and Nyahururu recorded the lowest daily minimum temperature of 9.6°C on May 12, 2024.

Floods have subsided in many parts of the country, with dry spells expected in previously flooded areas, including Mandera, Kajiado, Machakos, and Homa Bay. For example, Mandera County, which recently saw over 500 households displaced, is not expected to receive any rainfall.

This transition marks a significant shift in Kenya's weather patterns, necessitating preparedness and adaptation to the changing conditions.