The Kenya Meteorological Department forecasts persistent rainfall across various regions of the country over the next seven days, cautioning residents to prepare for a mix of scattered showers, thunderstorms, and brief sunny intervals.
In the official outlook covering April 7 to 13, acting director Edward Muriuki noted that these weather patterns will primarily impact the Highlands East and West of the Rift Valley, the South Rift Valley, the Southeastern lowlands, the Coast, and Northeastern Kenya.
Western Kenya and the Lake Victoria Basin face a wet week, with rain expected in a few locations during the morning hours, followed by more widespread showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon and throughout the night. This active weather cycle will directly affect counties such as Kisumu, Kakamega, Bungoma, Siaya, and Homabay. Residents across the Rift Valley, including those in Nakuru, Uasin-Gishu, Narok, and Baringo, should also anticipate similar conditions, with intermittent rainfall likely to develop as the days progress.
Residents in the Highlands East of the Rift Valley, including those in Nairobi, Nyeri, Murang’a, and Kiambu, should prepare for cloudy mornings and occasional light rain. While the skies will likely clear for sunny intervals during the day, the weather department expects showers to return by late afternoon and persist into the night.
Further north, the forecast for Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, and Isiolo indicates a wet start to the week. These Northeastern counties will likely see morning rains coupled with afternoon and night showers throughout the first half of the forecast period. Meanwhile, coastal residents in Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale, Lamu, and the Tana Delta can expect rain to move in at various times during the day. In the Southeastern lowlands of Machakos, Kitui, Makueni, and Kajiado, the sun will dominate most days, though occasional rainfall will break up the dry spells.
Conditions remain noticeably drier in Northwestern counties like Turkana and Samburu. These areas will stay largely sunny with partly cloudy nights, though northern Turkana may still experience isolated showers during the early morning or late evening.
Summarizing the outlook, Muriuki stated, “Rainfall is expected to continue in some parts of the Highlands East and West of the Rift Valley, the South Rift Valley, the Southeastern Lowlands, the Coast and Northeastern Kenya.”
Lowland areas will face intense heat over the coming week, as daytime temperatures in the Coast, Northeastern, Northwestern, and Southeastern regions are projected to climb above 30°C. In contrast, residents in high-altitude areas should prepare for chilly nights; temperatures in parts of the Central Highlands, the Central Rift Valley, and the region surrounding Mt. Kilimanjaro will likely dip below 10°C.
Recent climate data highlights a slight shift in weather patterns, as total rainfall across the country has decreased compared to the previous week. Despite this trend, some areas saw significant downpours: Kisumu recorded the highest cumulative rainfall at 109.9mm, while Kericho logged the highest 24-hour total, reaching 63.4mm on April 5.
Temperature trends varied across the country, with most regions experiencing a general increase in daytime highs. Mandera reached a peak of 37.6°C, securing its spot as the hottest location. Meanwhile, Nyahururu remained the coldest, dropping to a minimum of 6.6°C. Nighttime temperatures also fluctuated, with stations like Lodwar, Garissa, and Meru reporting warmer nights, while Nyeri and Narok recorded cooler conditions, illustrating the diverse climate variations currently influencing the nation.
