Samuel Mwangi, a meteorologist, has forecasted a postponement of Kenya's long rains, which are now expected to begin in the third or fourth week of March rather than the typical mid-February period, according to a 2019 report.
The seasonal rains usually occur from mid-February to May, but current projections indicate irregular patterns. The Meteorological Department advised farmers to avoid planting without consulting local weather advisories, citing potential poor distribution of precipitation.
Mwangi highlighted regional differences, noting that Kitui, Makueni, Machakos, Kajiado, Taita Taveta, Nairobi, and other counties would likely receive rainfall in the third week of March. Coastal and northeastern regions, however, faced expected rain in the fourth week. Kisii County had already recorded over 40mm of rainfall in recent days, according to the forecast.
Current conditions show extended sunny periods across most regions, with Nairobi reaching 31°C, Garissa and Wajir hitting 40°C, and Pokot and Samburu at 39°C. Coastal areas remained between 25-35°C. Light afternoon rains were predicted for Central, Lake, and South Rift Valley regions.
