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Cyclone Hidaya likely to hit Coast region- Cabinet

Motorcycle riders wade through a waterlogged street after heavy rains in Mombasa, Kenya, on November 3, 2023. (Photo: Simon Maina/ AFP)

By Maureen Kinyanjui | 02 May 2024

President William Ruto's Cabinet has alerted Kenyans of the looming threat of Cyclone Hidaya set to hit the coastal region.

This was revealed during a Cabinet meeting held at State House, Nairobi on Thursday, where the President and Cabinet Secretaries were briefed on measures to safeguard citizens from the ongoing floods plaguing many parts of the country.

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"Crucially, the coastal region is likely to experience Cyclone Hidaya, which will result in heavy rainfall, large waves and strong winds that could affect marine activities in the Indian Ocean," reads the Cabinet dispatch.

Cyclones are tropical storms that occur in the oceans.

During the meeting, the Cabinet was briefed on the weather forecast for the next three months, which showed that average to above-average rains will continue in all parts of the country.

It was noted that flooding is expected in low-lying areas and residents should also expect landslides and mudslides.

Going further, the Cabinet noted that more citizens affected by floods, mudslides and landslides are increasingly receiving help from the government and other partners.

Noting that the extreme weather conditions are a result of climate change, the Cabinet resolved that the government will henceforth rally the country to implement measures, programmes and policies that will mitigate the effects of climate change.

The Meteorological Department had cautioned Kenyans to expect more heavier and intense rains from Thursday and through the weekend.

The heavy rainfall will be more than 40mm and strong winds are also expected.

In its forecast issued on Thursday, torrential rains are expected across Lake Victoria Basin, Rift Valley, Nairobi, and Southeast Lowlands.

The weatherman said coastal regions and northern Kenya will experience heavy downpours and strong southerly winds exceeding 30 knots on Thursday and could intensify to over 40 knots from May 3 to 4, 2024.

Additionally, the weather department warned of the likelihood of large ocean waves, surpassing two meters, in the Indian Ocean from May 2 to 5, 2024.