MET: Heavy rains expected from Thursday as wet season builds up

Heavy Rains pound Nairobi/FILE

The Kenya Meteorological Department has forecast continued rainfall across several parts of the country between March 17 and March 23, 2026, with the intensity expected to increase from Thursday.

In its weekly weather outlook, the department said rainfall will be experienced in the Highlands East and West of the Rift Valley, the Lake Victoria Basin, the Rift Valley, the Southeastern Lowlands, and the Coastal region.

The agency warned that some areas within these regions could experience isolated heavy rainfall events during the period.

“Rainfall is expected over the Highlands East and West of the Rift Valley, the Lake Victoria Basin, the Rift Valley, the South-eastern Lowlands and the Coastal region,” the Kenya Met said in a post on their official X account.

The outlook comes as the country gradually transitions into the March–May long rains season which typically brings increased precipitation in several regions.

According to the weather agency, while many parts of the country are expected to experience rainfall, sections of northeastern and northwestern Kenya are likely to remain mostly sunny and dry.

However, the department noted that occasional rainfall cannot be completely ruled out in those regions during the forecast period.

“Parts of northeastern and northwestern Kenya are likely to remain mostly sunny and dry, although occasional rainfall may occur,” the agency said.

The forecast also highlighted expected temperature variations across different regions of the country.

Daytime temperatures above 30°C are expected in several areas, including the coastal region as well as parts of northeastern and northwestern Kenya.

These areas are expected to experience warm to hot conditions during the day throughout most of the week.

At the same time, significantly lower nighttime temperatures are forecast in parts of the Highlands East of the Rift Valley, the Central Rift Valley, and sections of the North Rift.

Temperatures in these areas could fall below 10°C at night, according to the Kenya Met.

Cold night-time conditions are also expected in locations near Mount Kilimanjaro, which often experience lower temperatures due to high altitude and surrounding weather patterns.

The Kenya Met Department advised residents to stay updated through its official platforms, where daily and county-specific forecasts are regularly published.

The agency provides their updates through its website, county forecasts, and the FASTA-Ken weather application, which allows users to monitor real-time weather conditions across different parts of the country.

Residents, farmers, and travelers are advised to follow regular forecasts during the rainy season to plan activities and take precautionary measures where necessary.

The forecast for the week of March 17 to March 23 indicates that rainfall will remain a dominant weather feature across much of the country as the long rains season begins to build momentum.