Tropical storm in Mozambique linked to Kenya’s sudden rainfall
Dr. Gikungu explained that strong winds carrying moisture over water bodies contribute to the rains, with natural features like hills and forests affecting their distribution.
The tropical storm that hit Mozambique on Monday morning may have influenced the sudden rainfall currently being experienced in Kenya.
According to data published by Relief web, Cyclone Jude hit Mozambique's Mossuril district, Nampula province, on March 10, 2025, with maximum sustained winds of 140 km/h and gusts up to 195 km/h. Then it brought heavy rainfall exceeding 250 mm in 24 hours, leading to flooding in Nampula and Zambezia provinces.
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Kenya Meteorological Department's director, Dr. David Gikungu, said that heavy rainfall pounding most regions in the country may have been influenced by an ongoing cyclone in Mozambique, which is disrupting wind patterns and pulling in more moisture from the Indian Ocean.
Dr. Gikungu explained that strong winds carrying moisture over water bodies contribute to the rains, with natural features like hills and forests affecting their distribution.
During an interview with Citizen TV on Monday, he clarified that the rainfall will dissipate by Wednesday evening.
“The rainfall we have experienced from yesterday is short-lived. However, there are some places in the Coast and Western Kenya, that will still experience some rain,” he said.
Gikungu said that the current showers do not signify the onset of the long rain season in the country. He said long rains are usually experienced in March-April-May, but often start mid-March.
Following last year’s El Niño and the recent La Niña dry spell, experts warn that the cyclone’s impact could prolong heavy rains, increasing the risk of floods.
“While tropical cyclones in the Southwest Indian Ocean can influence weather patterns in neighboring regions, current forecasts do not indicate a direct impact of Cyclone Jude on Kenya's rainfall,” he said.
“However, with the onset of the long rain is still pending, the dynamics might change and the Meteorological department will issue timely updates when that happens.”
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