The Kenya Meteorological Department has released the weather forecast for October, November and December short rain season.
In a statement on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, the weatherman stated that several parts of the country are expected to face a prolonged dry spell due to poor distribution of rainfall.
According to the weatherman, during the short rainy season, the Western part of the country is expected to receive rainfall slightly above average while the northeast and southeastern will receive a below-average downpour.
“The western sector of the country is expected to receive near to slightly above average rainfall, while the central parts of the country and isolated areas over the northeast and southeastern lowlands are likely to receive near to below average rainfall. The Coastal region, most of the Northeast and most of the Southeastern lowlands are expected to receive below-average,” the weatherman states in part.
“The distribution of rainfall is expected to be poor across several parts of the country. This will be marked by prolonged dry spells and occasional isolated storms, even in regions where the prediction indicates depressed rainfall.”
Prolonged dry spell
Areas that are expected to experience prolonged dry spells due to poor distribution of rain are; North-Eastern Counties including Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, Isiolo and eastern parts of Marsabit are expected to experience occasional rainfall throughout the season.
Counties in the coastal region such as Mombasa, Kilifi, Lamu, Kwale and Coastal Tana River are expected to receive rainfall with intermittent breaks during the season.
According to the report, areas that are expected to experience near-average downpours for the short rain season include; the Lake Victoria Basin, Highlands West of the Rift Valley, Central and South Rift Valley: (Siaya, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Migori, Busia, Kisii, Nyamira, Trans Nzoi Uasin Gishu, West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet, Nandi, Kericho, Bomet, Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma, Baringo, most parts of Nakuru, parts of Narok, parts of Laikipia, parts of Highlands East of the Rift Valley (western Nyandarua).
The weatherman predicted counties in the Northwestern and Northeastern are expected to receive rainfall with occasional breaks throughout the season.
The counties include Turkana, Western Samburu and parts of Northeastern Kenya (extreme western parts of Marsabit bordering Lake Turkana).
Temperature
In the weather forecast report, the weatherman stated that the temperature forecast shows most parts of the country are expected to be warmer than average, except in a few areas over the western sector where both maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to be near average.
The Central and Eastern parts of the country are expected to have higher probabilities for warmer than average temperatures.