Nairobi, the Coast and Western Kenya are adviced to keep umbrellas close as The Kenya Meteorological Service Authority says afternoon and night showers will hit large parts of the country between April 21 and 27, with some areas likely to see heavy downpours.
In its latest forecast, the weather department said Nairobi will wake up to cloudy mornings with occasional light rains.
Brief sunny spells will break through by midday before afternoon and night showers return. The rain will at times spread widely across the city and into neighboring Kiambu and Murang’a counties.
The central highlands are also on the list. Nyandarua, Laikipia, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Embu, Meru and Tharaka-Nithi counties should expect frequent afternoon and night showers, occasionally covering wide areas over the seven days.
Coastal counties face one of the wettest runs of the week. Mombasa, Kilifi, Lamu and Kwale, along with communities near the Tana Delta, are forecast to receive morning, afternoon and night showers across several places.
Western Kenya will be hit hard as well. Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma, Siaya, Busia and Trans-Nzoia counties are set for morning rains followed by afternoon and night thunderstorms that could spread broadly.
Across the Rift Valley, Baringo, Nakuru, Trans-Nzoia, Uasin-Gishu, Elgeyo-Marakwet, West Pokot, Kericho, Bomet and Narok counties will also see afternoon and night showers throughout the forecast window.
Around the Lake Victoria Basin, the pattern is similar. Kisii, Nyamira, Homabay, Migori and Kisumu counties are expected to have morning rains with afternoon thunderstorms dominating most of the coming week, according to KMD.
Northeastern counties will get lighter activity. Marsabit, Mandera, Wajir, Garissa and Isiolo are forecast to receive morning rains and afternoon showers in a few places, though conditions will be less intense than in the west and along the coast.
Kenya Met cautioned that isolated bursts could turn severe.
“Isolated heavy rainfall events are likely to occur in some parts of these regions and we urge residents in low-lying and flood-prone areas to remain alert throughout the week,” the statement said .
Not every region will be soaked. Turkana and Samburu counties are largely expected to enjoy sunny intervals during the day with partly cloudy skies at night.
Even so, isolated morning rains and afternoon showers may still catch residents in those counties off guard.
In Machakos, Kitui, Makueni, Kajiado and Taita-Taveta counties, plus inland sections of Tana River County, daytime conditions will be mostly sunny.
But morning and afternoon showers may still occasionally spread across several places without much warning.
The department did not issue specific flood alerts but advised the public to monitor updates, avoid crossing swollen rivers and prepare for possible transport disruptions where storms are heaviest.
