Brace for the chill: Met department warns of freezing nights

Brace for the chill: Met department warns of freezing nights

As the highland regions brace for the cold, counties in the North Eastern region; Marsabit, Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, and Isiolo are set to experience scorching daytime temperatures of up to 37°C.

Kenyans have been advised to prepare for a sharp drop in temperatures in several regions, with the Kenya Meteorological Department projecting cold nights of up to 6°C in areas including Nairobi and parts of the central highlands over the next five days.

In an advisory released by the department, Director David Gikungu placed Nairobi among the counties likely to experience extremely low nighttime temperatures through the weekend.

Other counties expected to be affected include Nyandarua, Nyeri, Laikipia, Kirinyaga, Murang'a, Kiambu, Meru, Embu, and Tharaka-Nithi.

“These areas are forecast to have minimum temperatures of 6°C. Residents should take necessary measures to stay warm and protect their health,” said Gikungu.

As the highland regions brace for the cold, counties in the North Eastern region; Marsabit, Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, and Isiolo are set to experience scorching daytime temperatures of up to 37°C.

Northwestern counties such as Turkana and Samburu are also expected to see temperatures rise to 36°C during the day, followed by chilly nights of about 7°C.

Counties in the Lake Victoria Basin, parts of the Rift Valley, and the western highlands are also expected to face cold nighttime temperatures and moderate daytime conditions.

These include Kisumu, Siaya, Homa Bay, Migori, Kisii, Nyamira, Baringo, Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Elgeyo-Marakwet, Trans Nzoia, Kericho, Narok, Nakuru, Kakamega, and Bomet.

“In these regions, nighttime temperatures will be as low as 6°C, while daytime highs will average around 29°C,” Gikungu added.

He warned that the country is entering the peak of the cold season, a time often associated with respiratory illnesses and limited morning visibility due to fog.

The department further projected warmer conditions in the coastal region, where counties like Mombasa, Kwale, Lamu, Kilifi, and coastal parts of Tana River County are set to experience minimum nighttime temperatures of 21°C and daytime highs of about 31°C.

In the South-eastern lowlands including Kitui, Machakos, Makueni, Kajiado, Taita Taveta, and inland areas of Tana River temperatures are expected to range between 12°C at night and 29°C during the day.

Alongside the fluctuating temperatures, several regions are expected to receive rainfall during the five days.

Gikungu revealed that showers will fall over the Highlands East and West of the Rift Valley, the Lake Victoria Basin, parts of the Rift Valley, and even areas in northwestern Kenya such as Turkana and Samburu.

“The intensity of rainfall will increase from Sunday, especially in the western and northwestern parts of the country,” he stated.

Nairobi and surrounding counties are forecast to receive light rainfall and remain largely cloudy, with the possibility of sunny breaks in between.

In the west of the Rift Valley and the Lake Basin, thunderstorms are expected in some areas, while strong winds of more than 25 knots (12.86 m/s) are forecast to sweep across the coastal region, southeastern lowlands, and the northern and northwestern parts of the country.

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