The severe cold season that has been synonymous with Nyeri for the last two months is on its tail end, Nyeri County Director of Meteorological Services John Muiruri has said.
Muiruri says the biting cold that had gripped the county for weeks was a normal weather phenomenon and comes immediately at the end of the March/April/May long rains.
Over the last few days, the county has also been experiencing sporadic morning and night time rains which is quite unusual in the month of August.
“The ongoing cold season will continue to subsidize as we move towards the end of this month of August. Residents of Nyeri should prepare for warmer days once we come out of this cold weather that has been with us for the last few weeks. We therefore wish to assure the general public that the coming days will be different from what we have been going through in terms of very low temperatures,” Muiruri told KNA.
Nyeri is currently grappling with one of the seasons, with temperatures plummeting to as low as 10 degrees Celsius.
Afternoon and night showers are projected over several parts of the county.
Maximum (day time) temperatures are expected to average from 19 degrees Celsius to 23 degrees Celsius while minimum (night ) temperatures are expected to range between 12 degrees Celsius and 15 degrees Celsius, according to a seven-day weather forecast from the County Meteorological Department for the period between August 27 to September 2.
A report from the Kenya Meteorological Department weather forecast for the same period predicts the possibility of intermittent cold and cloudy conditions over some parts of the Highlands East and West of the Rift Valley, the South-eastern lowlands and the Rift Valley.
Rainfall is expected in some parts of the Highlands East and West of the Rift Valley, the Lake Victoria Basin, the Rift Valley, the Coast and North eastern Kenya.
The rest of the Country is likely to be generally dry. High average daytime (maximum) temperatures of more than 30°C will be experienced in some parts of the Coast, North-Eastern and North-Western Kenya. Average night-time (minimum) temperatures will be low (less than 10°C) over some parts of the Highlands East of the Rift Valley, the South-Eastern lowlands
and the Rift Valley.
“Rainfall is expected during the beginning of the forecast period over some parts of the Highlands East and West of the Rift Valley, the Lake Victoria Basin, the Rift Valley, the Coast and the North eastern Kenya. Average night-time (minimum) temperatures will be low (less than 10 degrees Celsius) over some parts of the Highlands of the Rift Valley, the South-Eastern lowlands and the Rift Valley,” reads part of the weather report.
Muiruri had already advised residents of Nyeri to don warm clothing during this season to avert catching respiratory infections often associated with extreme cold weather.
He said there was nothing new about the change in weather and what was being experienced is a normal weather phenomenon that runs from July to August after the end of the March-April-May rains.
The unusually cold weather has forced people to alter their way of dressing by donning jumpers and other warm clothing to combat the chilly weather.
A spot check by KNA in Nyeri town has revealed that the cold spell has nevertheless turned out to be a boon for those selling jumpers and woolen outfits.
“We are right into what we call the cold season. One of the characteristics of this cold phenomenon is that it kicks off gradually, then peaks off as we move on before dying down in late August. Consequently, residents should prepare adequately for this season to ensure they don’t suffer from any adverse health complications that may result from the extremely low temperatures,” he said.
He has also warned famers against rushing to prepare their lands for planting and says the light showers being experienced in parts of the county will be short-lived.
By Samuel Maina
