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Meteorologists attribute the early-season rains to favorable atmospheric conditions, including enhanced convective activity linked to the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO), which is expected to temporarily boost moisture and rainfall amounts in parts of the country during late February and early March.
According to Kenya Met, a heat wave is defined as a period of three or more consecutive days of extremely high daytime temperatures that exceed locally determined thresholds and are linked to increased health risks.
According to the government, the October to December short rains significantly underperformed, deepening food insecurity in drought-prone regions.
In its weekly bulletin released on December 9, the department noted that only a few areas in the Highlands East and West of the Rift Valley, parts of the Rift Valley itself, the Coast, North-eastern Kenya and the South-eastern lowlands are likely to experience occasional showers.
However, the weather pattern is not uniform across the country. KMD forecasts near to below-average or depressed rainfall in the Highlands East of the Rift Valley (including Nairobi), Southeastern lowlands, Coastal areas, and most parts of the Northeast, where communities could face water shortages and poor crop performance.
In its latest advisory, the weatherman noted that the rain is likely to be accompanied by isolated storms, especially during the afternoon, evening, and early morning hours. The public has been urged to remain cautious and take safety measures to avoid accidents and property damage.
Daytime temperatures could exceed 30°C along the Coast and in the North-eastern and North-western regions.