Kenya Met List Regions Set For Heavy Rainfall And Cool Condition For The Next Seven Days

Kenyans in several counties should keep an umbrella handy over the coming week, even as most of the country stays largely dry and cool, according to the latest forecast from the Kenya Meteorological Department, Kenya Met.

The seven-day outlook, released Thursday, August 13, points to western Kenya and sections of the Rift Valley as the areas most likely to see rainfall between now and August 20.

Counties on that list include Bungoma, Trans Nzoia, Nakuru, Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo-Marakwet, Kericho, Nyandarua and Nyeri.

Elsewhere, the picture is less about rain and more about grey skies. Nairobi, Kiambu, Kirinyaga, Laikipia, Embu, Meru and Murang’a are among the counties expected to see intermittent cloud cover and cooler temperatures through the week, without necessarily getting significant rainfall.

A similar pattern is forecast for Nyandarua, Nyeri, Tharaka-Nithi, Nakuru, Machakos, Kajiado, Taita-Taveta, Marsabit and Wajir, where cloudy spells are expected to come and go rather than settle in for the full seven days.

Overall, though, the department maintains that dry conditions will dominate in most parts of the country this week.

The forecast lands just as meteorologists flag a bigger shift on the horizon. Heavier, more sustained rainfall is expected to set in from September, with the North Eastern region and coastal areas likely to bear the brunt; some spots could see totals running as much as 20mm above the long-term average for that time of year.

Behind that outlook are two climate drivers being watched closely by forecasters worldwide: a strengthening El Niño and an emerging positive Indian Ocean Dipole.

Both phenomena are known to influence rainfall patterns across East Africa, and their combined effect is expected to shape weather conditions in the region well into the coming months.

Kenya Met has urged residents across affected regions to stay updated with daily forecasts and take necessary precautions, particularly in areas prone to flooding and landslides.

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