The weather office says rain will come to Kenya starting in mid-March. Their report from February 28 says some places will have plenty of rain, but others will see less than normal.
Dr David Gikungu runs the weather service. He tells farmers they should talk to farm helpers in their area and prepare their lands. These rains will help the dry, dusty ground across the country.
Many counties will see rain by mid-March. These include Nairobi, Kiambu, Embu, Nyandarua, Laikipia, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Murang'a, Meru and Tharaka Nithi. Areas like Kitui, Machakos, Makueni, Kajiado, and Taita Taveta will also start to feel wet around the same time.
The main rainy season should begin between the second and third week of March. Dr Gikungu explains that after that first rain, there might be a short dry time. Many other counties share this same rain pattern, such as Siaya, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Migori, Kisii, and Nyamira, plus many more across the country.
Not all places will be lucky with rain. The coast and parts of northeast Kenya may see less rain than normal. These areas include Mandera, Marsabit, Isiolo, Wajir, and Garissa. Any rain there will come and go, with dry times between.
Weather experts say these rains happen because of the Madden-Julian Oscillation, or MJO. This is a big cloud pattern that moves around Earth near the equator every 30 to 60 days. When MJO passes through, it brings storms and rain. After it leaves, things turn hot and dry.
MJO should reach phase two by mid-March. Dr Gikungu says this might cause rain to start earlier than normal in some parts of Kenya.
The coast areas - Mombasa, Tana River, Kilifi, Lamu, and Kwale - will probably see some rain between the second and third weeks of March. Then, it will turn dry again. These places will likely see less rain than what they usually get in March. Rain should start fully on the South Coast between late March and early April. The North Coast must wait until mid-April.
Dr David Gikungu runs the weather service. He tells farmers they should talk to farm helpers in their area and prepare their lands. These rains will help the dry, dusty ground across the country.
Many counties will see rain by mid-March. These include Nairobi, Kiambu, Embu, Nyandarua, Laikipia, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Murang'a, Meru and Tharaka Nithi. Areas like Kitui, Machakos, Makueni, Kajiado, and Taita Taveta will also start to feel wet around the same time.
The main rainy season should begin between the second and third week of March. Dr Gikungu explains that after that first rain, there might be a short dry time. Many other counties share this same rain pattern, such as Siaya, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Migori, Kisii, and Nyamira, plus many more across the country.
Not all places will be lucky with rain. The coast and parts of northeast Kenya may see less rain than normal. These areas include Mandera, Marsabit, Isiolo, Wajir, and Garissa. Any rain there will come and go, with dry times between.
Weather experts say these rains happen because of the Madden-Julian Oscillation, or MJO. This is a big cloud pattern that moves around Earth near the equator every 30 to 60 days. When MJO passes through, it brings storms and rain. After it leaves, things turn hot and dry.
MJO should reach phase two by mid-March. Dr Gikungu says this might cause rain to start earlier than normal in some parts of Kenya.
The coast areas - Mombasa, Tana River, Kilifi, Lamu, and Kwale - will probably see some rain between the second and third weeks of March. Then, it will turn dry again. These places will likely see less rain than what they usually get in March. Rain should start fully on the South Coast between late March and early April. The North Coast must wait until mid-April.
