High temperatures due to effects of El Nino

When women who had gathered at the Tom Mboya Labour College to raise funds for the Maendeleo ya Wanawake, Kisumu branch were caught by heavy downpour. [Collins Oduor, Standard] Kenyans have recently been experiencing excess heat during the day and night. And the weatherman has now attributed this to the effects of the recent El Nino. Kenya experienced El Nino rains from last year November, which lasted up to January. Yesterday, the Kenya Meteorological Department said the current high temperatures were expected. "The current high temperatures being experienced in the country were expected considering January and February are dry months," said Kenya Meteorological Department director Richard Muita. He added: "We are coming from October to December rains which were linked to El Nino rains. Following the El Nino enhanced rains, the atmosphere is normally warm due to the sea surface temperatures linked to El Nino conditions, which are persisting within our region, especially over the Indian and Pacific Oceans where they emanate from and that is what is fueling the current high temperatures." He said places like Mandera, Marsabit and Garissa could be experiencing higher temperatures of over 35 degrees. Dr Muita said Nairobi could be experiencing temperatures of about 28 to 29 degrees and will persist till March. He advised Kenyans to wear light clothes, avoid exposing their bodies to much sun by wearing a cap, carrying an umbrella and staying hydrated. He said according to the weather forecast from February 20 to 26, most parts of the country are expected to be sunny and dry. Director of Meteorological Services David Gikungu said a few areas in the South Rift Valley, the Lake Victoria Basin, the Highlands East and West of the Rift Valley, South-Eastern lowlands, the Coast and North-Eastern Kenya are likely to receive light to moderate rainfall. "Relatively higher temperatures are expected in most parts of the country," he said. Various organisations including the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have also warned of warmer conditions in 2024. In its February 13 to 19 forecast, they predicted that most parts of the country are expected to be sunny and dry. However, the weatherman says a few areas in the South Rift Valley, the Lake Victoria Basin and the Highlands East and West of the Rift Valley are likely to receive light to moderate rainfall. "High average daytime (maximum) temperatures of more than 30 degrees will be experienced over the Coast, North-eastern and North-western Kenya as well as over some parts of the South-eastern lowlands and the Highlands West of the Rift Valley," said Dr Gikungu. He adds: "A few areas in the Highlands East of the Rift Valley will experience low average night-time (minimum) temperatures of less than 10 degrees." In its comparison between January 29 to 4 February and the 5 to 11 February 5 to 11, 2024 periods, weatherman noted that daytime temperatures increased over some stations including Narok, Mombasa and Kitale and decreased over Suba, Nyeri and Kitui among others.

High temperatures due to effects of El Nino

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