El Nino threat over? MET Department now says Kenya to expect ‘above average rainfall’ from October to December

With the exception of the Highlands West of the Rift Valley, the Lake Victoria Basin, Central, and Southern Rift Valley, where rainfall is anticipated to continue from September, several regions of the country are expecting the rains to begin between the second and third week of October.

The Lake Victoria Basin, the Central and portions of the South Rift Valley, the Highlands West of the Rift Valley, the Coast, North-eastern Kenya, and the majority of the South-eastern lowlands are likely to experience rainfall above average in October.

The Northwestern parts of the country, the Southeastern lowlands (Kajiado), and the Southern Rift Valley (parts of Narok) are likely to receive near-average rainfall.

Kenya MET has urged farmers to seize the opportunity to increase crop cultivation and pasture production in order to fully capitalize on the anticipated increase in precipitation.

At the same time, the weatherman has warned that flashfloods are possible in low-lying areas of the northern regions, the Southeastern lowlands, the Coastal region, parts of the Central and South Rift Valley, and inadequately drained urban areas.

Residents are advised not to seek shelter under trees or near metallic structures in areas where lightning strikes are common, such as the Lake Victoria Basin and Western parts of the country, particularly Kisii, Kisumu, Nandi, Kakamega, and Bungoma.

The latest forecast comes just days after the Kenya Met Service identified several areas in Western Kenya that are likely to flood, including Nyakach, Nyando, lower areas of the River Nzoia, Winam Gulf, and lower areas of the River Sondu.

The weatherman had urged Kenyans to be cautious as El Niño returns this year, a phenomenon that occurs every 3 to 5 years and causes excess rainfall and flooding in the East African region.

The worst in recent memory was back in 1997 and 2006.