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/ 7/23
Date 30th March 2009
WEATHER REVIEW FOR THE LAST FOUR DAYS 26TH TO 29TH MARCH AND THE EXPECTED
CONDITIONS DURING THE NEXT FOUR DAYS VALID, 31ST MARCH TO 3RD APRIL 2009.
1.
WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS



Light to moderate rainfall amounts were recorded over the central highlands. Nairobi,
southeatern and Western parts of the country during the last four-day period (26th to 29th March,
2009) with Voi station recording a one day storm of 17.3mm. This marks the onset of the longrains season especially over the central highlands and western parts of the country. The rest of the
country however remained generally sunny and dry.
Daytime temperatures were relatively high over most parts of the country due to the sunny
conditions. The nighttime temperatures slightly warmed up especially over the central parts of the
country towards the end of the review period (26th to 29th March, 2009).
Forecast models indicate that most parts of the country will receive precipitation at the beginning
of the forecast period (31st March to 3rd April, 2009) reducing towards the end.
2.
WEATHER SUMMARY
(a) Rainfall review:
Light to moderate rainfall amounts were recorded over the central highlands, Nairobi, southeatern and
western parts of the country during the last four-day period (26th to 29th March 2009) with Voi station
recording a one day storm of 17.3mm on 28th of March 2009. This marked the onset of the long-rains season
especially over the central highlands and the western parts of the country. The rest of the country however
remained generally sunny and dry.
Meru station recorded the highest four-day rainfall amount of 30.7mm followed by Embu with 27.5mm.
Dagoretti, Voi, Wilson, Suba, Thika, Kabarak, Kakamega, Mombasa, ,JKIA, M.A.B, Nakuru, Kisumu,
Eldoret, Nyeri, Mombasa, Wilson, Machakos, and Kisii recorded 26.3, 17.8, 10.0, 8.6, 7.2, 7.0, 6.2, 6.2, 6.0,
5.1, 4.6, 4.0, 3.5, 3.0, 0.3, and 0.1mm respectively during the last four-day period while the rest of the
stations recorded no rainfall as seen in figure 1 below.
(b) Temperature review:
Daytime temperatures remained high over most parts of the country more so over the northern parts where
most stations recorded maximum temperatures above 36°C while in the central districts, temperatures of
over 27°C were recorded. There was a drop in temperatures over the central districts towards the end of the
review period (26th to 29th March 2009) due to the rainfall activities. The lowest four-day average maximum
temperature of 25.1°C was recorded at Nyahururu. Mandera station recorded the highest daily maximum
temperature of 39.2°C (on 27th March 2009) as well as the highest four-day average maximum temperature
of 38.9C.
Minimum (nighttime) temperatures were also moderately high over most parts of the country. Most stations
in central Rift Valley and some parts of western highlands recorded minimum temperatures of above 12°C.
Nyahururu station recorded the lowest daily minimum temperature of 4.6°C (on 26th March) as well as the
lowest four-day average minimum temperature of 8.0°C (as seen in figure 2).
1
35.0
30.7
30.0
27.5
26.3
RAINFALL (MM)
25.0
20.0
17.8
15.0
10.0
8.6
10.0
7.0
6.2
5.0
0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
7.2
6.2
3.0
0.0 0.1
0.0
6.0
5.1
4.6
4.0
3.5
0.0
0.0
0.3 0.0
0.0
0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
MOMBASA
MTWAPA
MALINDI
MSABAHA
VOI
LAMU
MAKINDU
MACHAKOS
JKIA
THIKA
WILSON
M.A.B.
DAGORETTI
LAIKIPIA
EMBU
MERU
NYERI
NAROK
KABARAK
NAKURU
SUBA
NYAHURURU
KISII
KISUMU
KERICHO
ELDORET
ELDORET A/P
KAKAMEGA
KITALE
WAJIR
MANDERA
MOYALE
GARISSA
MARSABIT
LODWAR
0.0
STATION
FIGURE 1: FOUR-DAY RAINFALL TOTALS FROM 26TH TO 29TH MARCH 2009
26.2
33.5
35.1
33.3
26.7
22.1
20.3
15.4
24.2
33.4
34.0
27.2
27.5
14.0
13.8
12.6
0.0
8.0
15.9
28.8
13.4
19.8
25.1
30.3
MIN.
30.6
35.0
28.3
17.4
27.9
8.5
10.0
5.0
27.5
8.9
15.0
14.9
12.0
20.0
31.9
30.6
38.9
26.7
36.8
38.5
18.2
25.0
25.1
30.0
25.5
TEMPERATURE IN oC
35.0
27.8
40.0
38.6
MAX.
45.0
MOMBASA
MALINDI
LAMU
VOI
MAKINDU
MERU
EMBU
NYERI
DAGORETTI
STATION
NAROK
NAKURU
NYAHURURU
KISUMU
KISII
KERICHO
ELDORET
KAKAMEGA
KITALE
MANDERA
WAJIR
GARISSA
MARSABIT
LODWAR
0.0
FIG2:FOUR-DAY MAXIMUM & MINIMUM TEMPERATURES FROM 26TH TO 29TH MARCH 2009
3: EXPECTED DEVELOPMENTS (FROM 31ST MARCH TO 3RD APRIL 2009)
Moderate pressures are expected over the South Atlantic Ocean (St. Hellena) region at the beginning of the
forecast period, weakening towards the end. Weak pressures will be experienced over the South African and
Mozambique Channel strengthening as the forecast period progresses. The Mediterranean regions will be
under weak pressures throughout the forecast period. The South Western Indian Ocean (Mascarene) and he
Arabian region will be under moderate pressures throughout the forecast period. The winds flow patterns in
the lower and upper levels are expected to maintain chances of convective development and significant rain
clouds formation especially over the eastern sector of the country.
In view of these developments, most parts of the country are expected to receive precipitation at the
beginning of the forecast period reducing slightly towards the end.
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4: FORECAST FOR THE NEXT FOUR DAYS FROM 31ST MARCH TO 3RD APRIL 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
afternoon showers and thunderstorms over several places occasionally reducing to few places. Occasional
night showers over few places are likely to be experienced especially at the beginning of the forecast period.
The Northwestern districts (Lodwar, Lokitaung, Lokichoggio, etc), will experience mainly sunny
conditions throughout the forecast period with occasional afternoon showers and thunderstorms over few
places.
Northeastern districts (Marsabit, Moyale, Mandera, Wajir, Garissa etc), will experience mainly sunny
intervals with occasional morning rains/afternoon showers over few places especially at the beginning of the
forecast period.
The Central highlands including Nairobi area (Nyeri, Meru , Dagoretti, Embu, etc) will experience
afternoon/night showers over several places especially at the beginning of the forecast period reducing to
few places with time. Morning rains will be experienced occasional over few places.
The Southeastern lowlands (Voi, Makindu, Machakos etc) will experience mainly sunny intervals with
occasional morning rains/ afternoon showers over a few places especially at the beginning of the forecast
period.
The Coastal region (Mombasa, Kilifi, Malindi, Lamu etc) will experience morning showers over several
places especially at the beginning of the forecast period reducing to few places as the period progresses.
Occasional afternoon showers over few places are also likely to be experienced.
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%
DR. CHARLES MUTAI
FOR: DIRECTOR OF METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES
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