Dry Spell To Continue In Laikipia, Met Warns

By Our Correspondent

Laikipia residents should prepare for a mostly sunny and dry week, even as isolated showers, thunderstorms, strong winds and cold nights affect parts of the county between Saturday and Sunday.

The weekly forecast issued by the Kenya Meteorological Department today says light to moderate rainfall will continue over few places in Laikipia West and parts of Laikipia East.

County Director of Meteorological Services David Njiru said rainfall will not be widespread, but some areas should expect afternoon weather changes during the week.

“Mainly sunny and dry conditions are expected over most places,” Njiru said in the forecast, which covers Laikipia North, Laikipia East and Laikipia West.

The areas likely to receive occasional afternoon showers and thunderstorms include Nyahururu, Marmanet Forest, parts of Ng’arua, Ol Pejeta, Nanyuki, Umande and a few other places.

The forecast indicates cumulative weekly rainfall of less than 40 millimetres, with much of the predicted rainfall likely to fall on Friday and Saturday.

The national seven-day forecast by the Kenya Meteorological Department also lists Laikipia among counties expected to receive rainfall between July 7 and 13.

Strong southerly winds are expected to dominate most places in Laikipia North and Laikipia East, with speeds exceeding 25 knots during the forecast period.

“Strong Southerly winds with speeds greater than 25Knots are dominant over most places in Laikipia North and Laikipia East,” Njiru said.

Daytime temperatures are expected to rise slightly across the county, ranging between 23 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius, while night temperatures will range from 5 to 16 degrees Celsius.

Minimum temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius are likely around Nyahururu, Marmanet and regions adjacent to Mt Kenya, raising the need for residents to guard against cold weather exposure.

The national outlook places Laikipia among counties expected to experience intermittent cool and cloudy conditions during the same period.

In Laikipia North, mornings will be mostly sunny, with cloudy and sunny conditions expected on Friday, Saturday and Monday. Nights will remain partly cloudy throughout the week.

The region will receive showers over few places on Friday afternoon, while daytime temperatures will range between 27 and 29 degrees Celsius.

Laikipia East will experience afternoon showers over few places on Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, while Wednesday and Thursday afternoons will have sunny intervals.

Temperatures in Laikipia East are expected to range between daytime highs of 24 to 27 degrees Celsius and night lows of 10 to 12 degrees Celsius.

Laikipia West will remain relatively cool, with showers and thunderstorms forecast over few places on Friday afternoon and showers expected on Saturday and Monday.

The region’s lowest night temperature is forecast at 8 degrees Celsius on Friday, while daytime highs will range between 23 and 24 degrees Celsius.

During the previous review period, light to moderate rainfall was recorded in Lariak, Mutara Orchards, Thome, Ol Pejeta, Nanyuki, Three Rivers and a few other areas.

Rainfall amounts declined over most places compared with the previous two weeks, while daytime maximum temperatures increased and night temperatures varied from place to place.

Station records show Lariak Secondary School received 12.5 millimetres, Three Rivers Academy 6.1 millimetres, Lamuria Meteorological Station 4.6 millimetres and Ol Pejeta Golf 3 recorded 14 millimetres.

Other stations recorded reduced or nil rainfall, including Nanyuki Meteorological Station, Mugie Conservancy, Lol-Daiga, Ol Jogi Conservancy and Borana Conservancy rainfall stations.

Njiru urged residents and weather users to continue tracking daily updates, noting that the weekly forecast should be supplemented by shorter-range advisories from the department.

“It’s important to follow up this weekly forecast with the 24hr forecast issued daily by the Kenya Meteorological Department,” Njiru said.

The department classifies rainfall below 5 millimetres as light, 5 to 20 millimetres as moderate, 20 to 50 millimetres as heavy and above 50 millimetres as very heavy.

Its forecast terminology defines “few places” as below 33 per cent coverage, “several places” as 33 to 67 per cent, and “most places” as 67 to 100 per cent.