Kenya is set to experience a week of unpredictable weather, with scorching temperatures and intermittent rains predicted to sweep across various regions. The Kenya Meteorological Department has issued a five-day forecast, starting from Saturday, August 17, with warnings of fluctuating temperatures and thunderstorms.
Nairobi and Kiambu residents should prepare for a mix of hot and wet conditions. The weather in the Highlands East of the Rift Valley, including Nairobi, will be relatively moderate, but with a twist.
The mornings will start with cloudy skies, breaking into sunny intervals by mid-morning. However, the afternoons and evenings are expected to bring showers, leaving residents to contend with the double-edged sword of both heat and rain.
Temperatures in these areas will swing between a chilly 7°C and a more comfortable 26°C, creating a rollercoaster of weather conditions.
North-western Kenya, including Turkana and Samburu, is bracing for an even hotter ordeal. The region is expected to endure sweltering temperatures, peaking at a scorching 36°C on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday.
Alongside the heat, the afternoons will be punctuated by showers and thunderstorms, while the nights bring more rain to a few areas. Temperatures here will vary widely, from a low of 14°C to highs of 35°C, making it a challenging week for residents.
Further west, counties such as Siaya, Kisumu, Homabay, and Migori are not spared from the unpredictable weather. Heavy rains and thunderstorms are forecasted, with downpours expected every morning, afternoon, and evening for the entire five-day period.
Similar conditions will extend to regions like Kisii, Nyamira, Trans Nzoia, and Nakuru, where residents will face a relentless combination of rain and thunder. These areas will experience temperatures fluctuating between 9°C and 31°C.
The coastal region, usually warm and dry, will also see some action. Moderate rainfall is expected on Saturday, Sunday, and Wednesday, with occasional showers in the mornings and afternoons.
Temperatures will hover between 20°C and 30°C, offering some relief but still keeping residents on their toes.
David Gikungu, the Director of the Kenya Meteorological Department, emphasised the variability of the weather patterns. "Intermittent cool and cloudy conditions are expected over some parts of the Highlands East and West of the Rift Valley, the South-eastern lowlands, and the Rift Valley," he noted.
Gikungu added that rainfall would persist in parts of the Highlands, the Lake Victoria Basin, and North-western Kenya, bringing a mix of weather challenges to these areas.
In the Southeastern lowlands, including Kitui, Makueni, Machakos, and Kajiado, sunny skies will dominate during the day, but clouds will roll in at night. Temperatures will range from a low of 11°C to a high of 31°C, leaving residents to navigate through both hot days and cool nights.
Northern counties like Marsabit, Mandera, Wajir, and Garissa will experience mostly warm and sunny days, tempered by occasional morning cloud cover. Marsabit, in particular, might see some showers, but the temperatures will remain high, ranging between 15°C and 37°C.
