Strong winds are to be expected in various parts of the country from Sunday to Tuesday, especially in the coastal waters, the Kenya Meteorological Department has warned.
In a fresh weather alert on Sunday, May 25, the weatherman said the strong winds are expected to persist from Sunday through Tuesday morning, marking a third consecutive day of hazardous weather conditions on the coast.
According to the Met Department, the coast region is expected to experience winds of speeds projected to hit 14 meters per second (approximately 27.2 knots) and above.
These levels are typically classified as high and dangerous and pose a great risk to small vessels and lightweight structures.
Further, the weatherman also projects these conditions to be experienced at the heart of the Indian Ocean, where fishermen and other beachgoers typically frequent.
Since there are likely to be strong winds along the coastlines for the next 24 hours, this energy is likely to be transferred to the ocean surface, consequently generating large and powerful waves and increasing the risk of capsizing vessels.
Such a case was witnessed in Kilifi and Lamu counties over the weekend. In Kilifi, two people went missing on Friday, May 23, after their vessel was hit by strong winds. The pair was part of a group of fishermen from the Mnarani Beach Management Unit (BMU) in Kilifi North South County.
The Kenya Red Cross also confirmed the incidents on Saturday, May 24, saying that three boats capsized across the two Kenyan counties of Lamu and Kilifi.
Between mid-May and September, the Kenyan coast is typically hit with strong winds in a period typically known as the "Kusi" season. One of the characteristics of the Kusi season is that southeast winds blow from the Indian Ocean toward the Kenyan coast.
On the Beaufort Scale, wind speeds between 13.9 and 17.1 m/s fall under the “Near Gale” category, posing a serious risk to simple activities such as walking along the beach.
For this reason, Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Sherrif Nassir ordered the closure of the beaches for two days.
The governor also announced the suspension of ocean-based activities, both commercial and recreational, to avoid any incidents in the ocean.
Besides the strong winds, the weatherman also urged Kenyans to brace for the cold season, particularly during the night, when temperatures in various parts of the country were expected to drop to as low as 9°C.
