Weather experts warn of dry days

The country is headed for a dry month, as day time temperatures hit a record high.

Weather experts have also warned that strong swirls of dusty wind, also known as dust devils, will be experienced in most parts of the country.

February, generally a dry month, comes on the back of an equally sunny January that saw daytime temperatures in most counties rise to over 32°C.

The monthly weather review for January, which was released last week by the Meteorology Office, blamed the fall in water levels in power-producing dams and other water reservoirs on the high daytime temperatures.

“The higher than average daytime temperatures all over the country led to high rates of evaporation and hence reduced water levels in the hydroelectric power generating dams,” said the review.

Water shortage

Despite the dry weather that might continue up to mid-March, Ndakaini Dam Manager Job Kihamba allayed fears that Nairobi would experience water shortage.

Ndakaini provides much of the water used by the city residents, a demand of 770 million cubic metres daily. Kihamba maintained that production would be normal.

For the past two years, water levels have fallen up to 21 per cent, creating water shortages in the city.

“The water levels might go down, but will not be as critical as last year, as you remember the country had experienced one of the worst droughts. There are no fears of water shortage currently,” said Mr Kihamba.

“We’ll continue giving the normal water that comes to the city, but of course the demand is higher than our capacity is,” he added.

The February weather outlook by the Kenya Meteorological Department has also warned that the dry weather might fuel wild fires and also cause reduced visibility in some areas as a result of dust.