Climate scientists at the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)’s Climate Predictions and Application Centre (ICPAC) have cautioned Kenyans to brace for a heat wave in the coming days.
The climate experts in their forecast report released on Friday, February 21, disclosed that the above-average temperatures were also expected to affect the larger Eastern African region.
The scientists revealed that elevated heat stress was expected in several areas, including Eastern Kenya, South Sudan, Eastern Tanzania, Southern Sudan, and Southern Somalia.
Individuals residing in the aforementioned regions were cautioned that the harsh conditions could significantly impact both human health and agriculture.
While southeastern Sudan was predicted to experience temperatures exceeding 32°C, temperatures of between 20-32°C were projected in the greater Horn of Africa, affecting some parts of Kenya.
However, mild temperature conditions of less than 20°C were expected over parts of Northern Sudan, the Ethiopian highlands, and Central and Western Kenya.
“Warmer than usual temperatures over most parts of the GHA, while cooler than usual temperatures are expected over parts of coastal regions of Somalia and Kenya,” the specialised institution of the IGAD said.
Meanwhile, the experts noted that light rainfall, under 50 millimetres, was also expected over parts of southern and central Tanzania, a few regions in coastal Kenya, and southwestern South Sudan.
The climate experts noted that the region's vulnerability to climate change was becoming more apparent and that the extreme conditions could have a lasting impact on both ecosystems and local populations.
The latest report comes on the back of the Kenya Meteorological Department's advisory that only sunny, dry, and hot weather conditions were expected to prevail over most parts of the country in the coming week.
In its weekly weather forecast released on Friday, February 21, the weather department noted that maximum temperatures of more than 30°C were predicted over most parts of the country except over the Highlands east of the Rift Valley.
Similarly, Kenya Met predicted strong southeasterly winds of more than 25 knots or 12.9 metres per second in parts of northwestern and northeastern Kenya.
