The Kenya Meteorological Department has issued a forecast for increased rainfall in the Rift Valley Highlands West, the Lake Victoria Basin, the Central and South Rift Valleys, the Northwest, the Rift Valley Highlands East (including Nairobi County) and the South-eastern lowlands.
The “Long-Rains” season projection for March-April-May (MAM) 2022 also anticipated near-average rainfall throughout the North-eastern and Coastal regions.
The rainy season is forecast to peak in April for most locations, with the exception of the Coastal Strip, where it is expected to peak in May.
The National Weather Service also warned that some locations will likely have rainfall that is higher than the long-term average (above normal) for the season.
Kisumu, Kisii, Uasin Gishu, West Pokot, Laikipia, Nakuru, Narok, Kericho, Bomet, Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma, and Busia are among them.
According to an evaluation of the performance of the October-November-December 2021 Rainfall Season, numerous sections of the country received less than 75per cent of their Long-Term Mean rainfall.
Except for a few regions in the Highlands West of the Rift Valley, the Lake Victoria Basin, Central and South Rift Valley, the start of the seasonal rains (onset) was delayed in most parts of the country.
The short rainfall was unevenly distributed over the country and had a poor temporal distribution.
During the early half of the season, there were prolonged dry spells, and in the second half, there were scattered strong storms.