Bad weather ahead as long rains set in

Budalang’i residents view a damaged dyke along River Nzoia after past floods. Flooding will occur in Budalang’i and Kano plains with landslides/mudslides in parts of Western, Central and Rift Valley. PHOTO | FILE

What you need to know:

  • Mr Kongoti said in south eastern counties, the rains will begin between the third to fourth week of March and end between the first to second weeks of May. Other areas will be generally dry in May.

Brace yourselves for flash floods, lightning strikes, disease outbreaks and landslides/mudslides in parts of the country during the imminent long rains season, weathermen have warned.

Meteorological Services director James Kongoti Wednesday listed Gusii and Kakamega among areas that will have lightning strikes.

Flooding will occur in Budalang’i and Kano plains with landslides/mudslides in parts of Western, Central and Rift Valley, he said.

ENHANCED RAINFALL

Speaking as he released the March to May long rains season forecast at the Meteorological Services headquarters in Dagoretti Corner, Nairobi, Mr Kongoti, who was with deputy directors Peter Ambenje and Stella Aura, said most parts of the country are expected to receive near normal to enhanced rainfall during the season.

“However, most parts of the country will initially receive depressed (poor) rainfall during the onset in March, but this will however become enhanced (peak) in April.”

Mr Kongoti added: “During the season, Busia, Vihiga, Kakamega, Bungoma, Kisumu, Siaya, Migori, Kisii, Homa Bay, Nyamira, Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, Kericho, Nandi, Nakuru, Bomet, Narok, Baringo, Laikipia, Kajiado, Turkana, West Pokot, Nyandarua, Nyeri, Kiambu, Murang’a, Kirinyaga, Nairobi, Embu and Meru are likely to receive near normal rainfall with a tendency towards enhanced rainfall.”

“However, during this period, Machakos, Makueni, Isiolo, Marsabit, Kitui, Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, Tana River, Lamu, Taita/Taveta, Mandera, Garissa and Wajir are likely to receive near normal rainfall with a tendency towards depressed rainfall,” he said.

Mr Kongoti said rainfall in counties in the Lake Basin and in the Highlands West of the Rift Valley will begin between the second and third week of March and continue to June.

“In the southern parts of the Rift Valley, Central highlands including Nairobi area, the rainfall will begin in the third to fourth week of March and end between the third to fourth week of May.

“In the Central Rift, rainfall is expected to begin in the third to fourth week of March and continue into June with a reduction during the fourth week of May,” he added.

GENERALLY DRY

Mr Kongoti said in south eastern counties, the rains will begin between the third to fourth week of March and end between the first to second weeks of May. Other areas will be generally dry in May.

“The onset of rainfall in the coastal strip is expected in the fourth week of March to first week of April and continue into June...

“But, in north-eastern and north-western districts, the rainfall onset is expected between the first to second week of April with the month of March remaining generally dry with the rainfall expected to end between the first to second week of May.

“Most areas will however, remain generally dry in May,” Mr Kongoti said, adding, cholera and typhoid could break out during peak rainfall.