Brace for heavy rains and strong winds this week, warns Met department
Most parts of the country are expected to experience heavy rains for the next week, the Kenya Meteorological Department has warned.
In an update, the weatherman said the week-long rain will start Tuesday, April 18, and until Friday at 6 pm.
The heavy rain, accompanied by strong winds, will intensify to more than 30mm in the next 24 hours in the Central Highlands, including Nairobi County, the South and Central Rift Valley, the Southeastern lowlands, off the South Coast and parts of Northeastern Kenya.
“The heavy rainfall is likely to continue over several parts of the country with a reduced intensity over the coastal region on Thursday 20th and Friday 21st April 2023,” the statement read in part.
Strong winds of over 25knots (12m/s) are expected over the South Coast and North-western Kenya.
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The rainfall is expected to spread to the Northern coastal region and Lake Basin on Wednesday, April 19, 2023.
Counties highlighted in the alert are Embu, Nyeri, Kiambu, Nyandarua, Laikipia, Murang’a, Meru, Kirinyaga, Tharaka Nithi, Nairobi, Narok, Nyamira, Kericho, Bomet, Nakuru, Kitui, Machakos, Makueni, Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, Tana River, Lamu, Mandera, Marsabit, Isiolo, Wajir and Garissa.
Residents in the mentioned areas have been advised to be on the lookout for potential flash floods.
“Flood waters may appear in places where it has not rained heavily especially downstream. Residents are advised to avoid driving through, or walking in moving water or open fields and not to shelter under trees and near grilled windows to minimize exposure to lightning strikes,” reads part of the advisory.
The strong winds may blow off roofs, uproot trees and cause structural damage.
Most parts of the country receive rainfall following the late onset of the March-May long rains.
According to the Met Department, preliminary predictions indicate that the expected rainfall will likely be depressed and characterised by a late onset and poor distribution in time and space.
Also read: Flooding nightmare for road users as heavy rainfall pounds Nairobi