Nairobi residents wading through water /FILEThe Kenya Meteorological Department has said Kenyans in various parts of the country should expect heavy rainfall over the weekend.
In the weekend weather update for April 12 - 13, the Weatherman said there will be isolated heavy rainfall over some parts of the Highlands East and West of the Rift Valley including Nairobi.
He said heavy rainfall will also be experienced in South-eastern lowlands, Coast region, Northwestern and Northeastern Kenya.
Areas in Highlands West of the Rift Valley, the Lake Victoria Basin and the Rift Valley forecast to receive heavy rains are Siaya, Kisumu, Homabay, Migori, Kisii, Nyamira, Trans Nzoia, Baringo and Uasin Gishu.
Others are Elgeyo Marakwet, Nandi, Nakuru, Narok, Kericho, Bomet, Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma, Busia and West Pokot counties.
The update comes even as the ongoing rains pounding Nairobi and other parts of the country have caused damage to critical infrastructure, including roads.
A spot-check by the Star recently showed that most roads were flooded, affecting the free movement of vehicles and persons.
April marks the peak of the ‘Long Rains’ season, and near-to-above-average rainfall is expected across most parts of the country.
The Met said they anticipate that areas like the Lake Victoria Basin, Highlands West of the Rift Valley, the Rift Valley, and parts of the Highlands East of the Rift Valley will experience more than usual rainfall, with occasional storms likely to occur.
The March-April-May-long rains have began in some parts of the country.
Met stated that the onset of the rains is characterised by a wet spell with at least 20mm of rainfall over three consecutive days and no dry spell of at least seven days within the following 21 days.
“For the Northern part of the country, the accumulated rainfall should be at least 10mm over three consecutive days,” it added.
The peak of the season in the coastal region is expected to occur in May.
