Kenya Met Warns of Rain, Thunderstorms in 20 Counties Over Next 24 Hours

The Kenya Meteorological Department has forecast rainfall in at least 20 counties over the next 24 hours, with wet, cool and, in some areas, stormy conditions expected to persist across parts of the country.

The forecast, issued at 3 p.m. on Thursday, July 24, covers the period between 9 p.m. Thursday and 9 p.m. Friday.

According to the department, weather conditions will vary across the affected regions, with some counties expected to receive light showers while others brace for thunderstorms, particularly in western Kenya and sections of the Rift Valley.

Counties Expected to Receive Rain

The counties likely to experience rainfall include Uasin Gishu, Kisumu, Kisii, Migori, Nakuru, Narok, Kericho, Kakamega, Trans Nzoia, Busia, Bungoma, Vihiga, Bomet, Nyamira, Embu, Nyeri, Nairobi, Taita Taveta and Nyandarua.

In Nairobi, residents should expect a partly cloudy night, followed by cloudy conditions with sunny intervals in the morning before light afternoon showers develop in isolated areas. Temperatures in the capital are forecast to range between 13°C and 25°C.

Nyandarua is expected to record some of the coldest temperatures during the forecast period, with lows of 9°C and highs of 23°C. The county is also likely to receive moderate afternoon showers.

Meanwhile, Nyeri is forecast to experience temperatures between 14°C and 24°C, with light showers expected overnight and additional rainfall later in the day.

Thunderstorms Forecast for Western Kenya and Rift Valley

The most unstable weather is expected across western Kenya and parts of the Rift Valley, where thunderstorms are likely.

Kericho is forecast to receive light showers and thunderstorms during the night, followed by a brief improvement before showers and thunderstorms redevelop in the afternoon.

Neighbouring Bomet is also expected to experience afternoon thunderstorms.

Kakamega is likely to receive overnight showers and thunderstorms, with a chance of morning rainfall before more storms develop later in the day.

Similar conditions are expected in Vihiga and Bungoma, while Busia could also experience light showers accompanied by thunderstorms.

Kisumu is forecast to begin the period with showers and thunderstorms before conditions improve slightly in the morning, only for storms to return in the afternoon.

Kisii and Nyamira are also expected to experience comparable weather, particularly overnight and later in the afternoon.

Elsewhere in the Rift Valley, Nakuru, Narok and Uasin Gishu are forecast to receive afternoon showers and thunderstorms, while Trans Nzoia could see showers developing after morning sunny intervals.

Cool Weather and Strong Winds Expected Elsewhere

Beyond the rainfall, Kenya Met has also warned of intermittent cool and cloudy conditions in Embu, Kiambu, Kirinyaga, Laikipia, Meru, Murang’a, Nairobi, Nyandarua, Nyeri, Tharaka Nithi, Kitui, Machakos, Kajiado and Makueni.

The department noted that prolonged cloud cover is expected in these areas, even where significant rainfall may not occur.

Additionally, strong southerly to south-easterly winds exceeding 25 knots—approximately 12.5 metres per second—are forecast in Marsabit, Isiolo, Mandera, Garissa, Turkana, Wajir, Tana River, Mombasa, Kilifi, Lamu and Kitui.

Kenya Met classifies light rainfall as less than 5 millimetres within a 24-hour period, while moderate rainfall ranges between 5 and 20 millimetres.