REPUBLIC OF KENYA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND MINERAL RESOURCES
KENYA METEOROLOGICAL DEPARTMENT
Dagoretti Corner, Ngong Rd, P. O. Box 30259, 00100 GPO, Nairobi, Kenya
Telephone: 254 (0) 20 3867880-7 / 3876957/60 / 3873682
Mobile: 254(0)724255153/ 254(0)724255154
Fax: 254 (0) 20 3876955/3877373/3867888/3874501
e-mail: director@meteo.go.ke; Website: http://www.meteo.go.ke
Ref. No. Met/ 1622
Date 29th January 2009
WEATHER REVIEW FOR THE LAST SEVEN DAYS 22ND TO 28TH JANUARY AND THE EXPECTED
CONDITIONS DURING THE NEXT SEVEN DAYS VALID, 30TH JANUARY TO 5TH FEBRUARY 2009.
1.
WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS



Moderately heavy rainfall was recorded in some parts of Western, Central and Northeastern
Districts during the last seven-day period (22nd to 28th January, 2009). Most parts of Southeastern
lowlands and the Coastal strip continued to be generally sunny and dry.
Daytime temperatures were relatively low over most parts of the country due to cloudy weather
conditions. The nighttime temperatures on the other hand were relatively high especially in
central Rift Valley.
The forecast for the next seven days (30th January to 5th February 2009) indicates that generally
sunny and dry weather conditions will resume over much of the country including the central and
western regions. A few areas in western Kenya are however expected to continue experiencing
light to moderate rainfall especially at the beginning of the forecast period.
2.
WEATHER SUMMARY
(a) Rainfall review:
Moderately heavy rainfall pounded several areas in Western Kenya and some parts of Northeastern and
Central districts including Nairobi during the last seven-day period (22nd to 28th January 2009). Most of the
rainfall was recorded during the second half of the review period. On 26th January for example, Embu
station in the central highlands, Kisumu station in western Kenya and Moyale station in Northeastern Kenya
recorded significantly high daily rainfall amounts of 76.3, 57.4 and 54.1mm respectively. The rainfall was
however short-lived in the central and northeastern districts, lasting for only two days. Elsewhere and
especially in the Southeastern lowlands and the Coastal strip, generally dry weather conditions were
maintained.
Kisumu station recorded the highest seven-day rainfall total of 110.7mm. Kericho, Kakamega, Embu, Kisii,
Moyale, Suba, Dagoretti Corner, Narok, Kitale, Machakos, Wilson Airport, Moi Air-base (Eastleigh) and
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport recorded 108.4, 96.2, 76.9, 73.0, 62.5, 54.1, 45.5, 40.3, 36.7, 32.3, 31.2,
24.9 and 20.5mm respectively. Kabarak, Eldoret, Thika, Eldoret Airport, Msabaha and Marsabit stations
recorded between 10 and 20 mm while the rest of the stations recorded less than 1mm as seen in figure 1.
(b) Temperature review:
Most parts of the country recorded relatively low daytime temperatures. This was more evident in the
northern areas where Marsabit station for example recorded maximum temperature as low as 19.4°C on 27th
January. In deed this was the lowest daily maximum temperature recorded in the country during the period.
This resulted from the mainly cloudy conditions as well as rains that occurred in some areas. The lowest
seven-day average maximum temperature of 23.2°C was recorded at Nyahururu. Mandera station recorded
the highest daily maximum temperature of 37.7°C (on 22nd and 24th January) as well as the highest sevenday average maximum temperature of 36.9°C.
Minimum (nighttime) temperatures were relatively high over most parts of the country including the central
Rift Valley. Nyahururu station however recorded temperatures of below 10°C throughout the period. The
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station recorded the lowest daily minimum temperature of 6.7°C (on 25th January) as well as the lowest
seven-day average minimum temperature of 8.3°C (as see in figure 2).
120.0
108.4 110.7
96.2
RAINFALL (MM)
100.0
76.9
73.0
80.0
62.5
54.1
60.0
45.5
40.3
36.7
40.0
32.3
31.2
20.5
15.4
24.9
20.0
16.3
8.6
15.812.9
10.8
4.6
0.0 2.2 1.7
4.5
1.0
11.6
2.0 3.4
0.0 0.4 1.5 0.0
0.4 0.7
MTWAPA
MOMBASA
MSABAHA
MALINDI
VOI
LAMU
MAKINDU
MACHAKOS
JKIA
THIKA
WILSON
M.A.B.
STATION
DAGORETTI
LAIKIPIA
EMBU
MERU
NYERI
NAROK
KABARAK
NAKURU
SUBA
NYAHURURU
KISII
KISUMU
KERICHO
ELDORET
ELDORET
KITALE
KAKAMEGA
WAJIR
MANDERA
GARISSA
MOYALE
LODWAR
MARSABIT
0.0
24.1
32.2
32.6
31.2
24.7
20.5
19.2
23.6
31.0
30.3
25.4
15.2
13.2
14.3
12.2
MOMBASA
MALINDI
LAMU
VOI
MAKINDU
MERU
EMBU
NYERI
NAROK
NAKURU
DAGORETTI
STATION
NYAHURURU
KISUMU
KISII
KERICHO
ELDORET
KAKAMEGA
KITALE
MANDERA
GARISSA
MARSABIT
LODWAR
0.0
WAJIR
0.0
11.4
12.4
8.3
24.2
26.7
23.2
10.0
5.0
27.5
29.9
17.8
15.4
25.0
23.7
11.8
25.0
11.1
27.6
27.3
14.7
15.0
MIN.
26.2
36.9
26.0
35.5
15.0
20.0
MAX.
11.3
25.0
24.3
30.0
24.4
TEMPERATURE IN oC
35.0
24.3
35.0
40.0
35.9
FIGURE 1: SEVEN-DAY RAINFALL TOTALS FROM 22ND TO 28TH JANUARY 2009
FIG2:SEVEN-DAY MAXIMUM & MINIMUM TEMPERATURES FROM 22ND TO 28TH JANUARY 2009
3: EXPECTED DEVELOPMENTS (FROM 30TH JANUARY TO 5TH FEBRUARY 2009)
Generally weak pressures are expected over the South Atlantic Ocean (St. Hellena) region for most of the
forecast period. They are however likely to strengthen slightly towards the end. Low pressures will be
dominant over the South African region as well as the Mozambique Channel throughout the forecast period.
The South Western Indian Ocean (Mascarene) will also be under weak pressures throughout the period. The
Arabian high-pressure ridge is expected to strengthen with time and become mainly continental as the period
progresses. This will continue to reduce the moisture influx from the Indian Ocean to the eastern sector of
the country. Winds in the upper levels are expected to be divergent at the beginning but will become
convergent with time. Convection will therefore be suppressed and this will reduce the chances of forming
significant rain clouds over most parts of the country.
In view of this, sunny and dry weather conditions will be dominant over most parts of the country. However,
a few areas in Western Kenya are expected to continue recording light to moderate rainfall amounts while
occasional afternoon/night showers are expected in the central districts especially towards the end of the
forecast period.
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4: FORECAST FOR THE NEXT SEVEN DAYS FROM 30TH JANUARY TO 5TH FEBRUARY 2009
Following these developments, it is expected that:
The Lake Victoria basin, Highlands west of the Rift Valley and Central Rift Valley (Kitale,
Kakamega, Kisumu, Kisii, Kericho, Eldoret, Nakuru, Narok, Nyahururu, etc) will experience light to
moderate afternoon showers and thunderstorms over few places for most of the forecast period. Several
areas are however likely to revert back to generally sunny and dry weather conditions.
The Northwestern districts (Lodwar, Lokitaung, Lokichoggio, etc) and Northeastern districts
(Marsabit, Moyale, Mandera, Wajir, Garissa etc) will experience generally sunny and dry weather
conditions throughout the forecast period. The extreme northern areas of Moyale are however likely to
experience light rainfall amounts towards the end of the forecast period.
The Central highlands including Nairobi area (Nyeri, Meru, Dagoretti, Embu, etc) will experience
occasional afternoon/night showers and more so towards the end of the forecast period. Generally sunny
conditions will however be dominant for most of the forecast period.
The Southeastern lowlands (Voi, Makindu, Machakos etc) will experience generally sunny and dry
conditions throughout the forecast period.
The Coastal region (Mombasa, Kilifi, Malindi, Lamu etc) will experience generally sunny conditions for
most of the period. A few areas along the south Coast are however likely to experience light morning
showers at the beginning of the forecast period.
N.B: This forecast should be used in conjunction with the daily 24-hour forecast issued by this
Department
KEY OF SCIENTIFIC WORDS USED
High Pressure System (Anticyclone): An area associated with clear skies or fine weather.
Ridge: An elongated area of high pressure from which winds flow outward.
Most Places: Between 66% and 100%.
Several Places: Between 33% and 66%
Few Places: Between 0 and 33%
J.K. MUHINDI
FOR: DIRECTOR OF METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES
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