Met department predicts start of long rains in March

The Kenya Meteoroid Department says the high temperatures which were recently recorded in major parts of the country will continue as the long rainy season of March to May kicks off. 

The meteorological department, while releasing the weather forecast for the next three months, says these conditions should worry the health sector.

“When you have a lot of water and the temps are higher, it also means that even health you have to be careful because there are some vectors that require a sufficient amount of water and high temperatures,” said MD Kenya Met Dr David Gikunga.

Dr Ayub Manya from the Ministry of Health added: “With flooding expected during the heavy rains, this will lead to contamination of water bodies leading to a rise in waterborne diseases.”

The weatherman however says the long rain season is already underway in parts of the country including Bungoma, ‘Uasin Gishu, West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet, Nandi, Kakamega, Bomet, Nyamira, Migori, Kisumu, Nakuru, Narok amongst other counties in the West of Rift Valley, the lake Victoria basin and the South Rift.

The counties of Nairobi, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Muranga, Embu, Meru, Kiambu, Nyandarua, Kajiado, Kitui Makueni Machakos, Tana River and Taita, will have the proper onset of the rainy season in the third week of march.

“We expect that the rainfall will continue where it is being experienced, like Western Kenya, that will continue, In Nairobi there will be a break but after the break, there will be the proper onset of the rain,” said Gikunga.

Counties in the North and Eastern parts of the country, Turkana, Samburu, Mandera, Marsabit Wajir, Garissa, Isiolo and parts of Tana River will have the onset of the rains in the last week of March. The rains here will also range from above average and will be poorly distributed.

Counties in the coastal strip will get rains from the third week of March and continue into June that will be near average, in intensity and will be fairly distributed. 

These conditions, the Met department says will be conducive for the country’s food security, but also warns that they could also be a sign of danger.

He is also asking counties in Western, Central and parts of Rift Valley regions to brace for mudslides and flooding. 

“In terms of food, we are ok, but in terms of infrastructure, we need to be careful. There may be risks of mudslides and landslides in some places high ground where the soils are loose, there is that likelihood of having swollen rivers,” he added.

The met department is also calling on relevant government agencies to use the forecast to prepare adequately to deal with any adverse effects of the coming long rains.