Dry conditions across most parts of the country / FILE
The Kenya Meteorological Department has said there will be generally dry weather across most parts of the country between July 21 and July 27, with rainfall expected in selected counties.
In its weekly weather outlook, the department said several counties in western Kenya, the Rift Valley and parts of the Coast are likely to receive rainfall during the period.
The affected counties include Bungoma, Trans Nzoia, Kakamega, Kericho, Kisii, Nakuru, Busia, Siaya, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Narok, Bomet, Nyamira, Vihiga, Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Migori, Lamu and Nyandarua.
The weatherman also forecast intermittent cool and cloudy conditions accompanied by light rains in parts of Kiambu, Kirinyaga, Laikipia, Meru, Murang'a, Nairobi, Nyandarua, Nyeri and Tharaka-Nithi counties.
According to the forecast, daytime temperatures exceeding 30°C are expected in parts of Kilifi, Tana River, Lamu, Garissa, Wajir, Isiolo, Marsabit, Samburu, Busia, Bungoma, Kakamega, as well as parts of West Pokot and Turkana counties.
Residents in the affected areas have been advised to prepare for hot daytime conditions.
Meanwhile, night-time temperatures are expected to fall below 10°C in parts of Meru, Tharaka-Nithi, Kirinyaga, Murang'a, Nyeri, Nyandarua, Laikipia, Nakuru, Baringo, Narok, Kajiado, Kiambu and Taita Taveta counties.
The department urged residents in the cold regions to keep warm, especially during the night and early morning hours, while advising the public to stay updated through official weather forecasts.
On June 11, the weatherman predicted that the next three months will be largely dry before El Niño rains arrive toward the end of the year.
Acting Director of Meteorological Services Edward Muriuki said although there is an 80 to 82 per cent chance that El Niño conditions will be in place during June, July and August, these three months will be dry in most parts of Kenya, while western Kenya will have depressed rainfall.
He said the enhanced rainfall, common during El Niño, would occur during the October, November and December seasons.
He explained that El Niño does not influence the weather in Kenya in isolation. “KMD is also closely monitoring the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) signal, which modulates the effect of El Niño in Kenya,” he said.
The IOD measures the difference in sea surface temperatures between the western (Kenyan side) and eastern tropical Indian Ocean.
When the western side of the Indian Ocean is warmer than the eastern side, a positive IOD occurs - and this is historically linked to heavy rains in Kenya during the October-November-December season.
A negative IOD, on the other hand, tends to suppress rains in Kenya.
