Rains are expected to spread to many parts of the country this weekend, marking the beginning of a wider return of the long rains after a slow start to April.

The Kenya Meteorological Department said showers will increase from Saturday and Sunday, reaching more regions.

“Rainfall is expected to continue in some parts of the highlands east and west of the Rift Valley, the south Rift Valley, the southeastern lowlands, the Coast and Northeastern Kenya,” the department said.

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Highlands west of the Rift Valley comprise Siaya, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Migori, Kisii, Nyamira, Trans Nzoia, Baringo, Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo Marakwet, Nandi, Nakuru, Narok, Kericho, Bomet, Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma, Busia and West Pokot.

On the other hand, the South Rift Valley comprises Narok and Kajiado.

The forecast shows while rains have been limited in recent days, they will begin to increase from the weekend.

For western Kenya and Rift Valley regions, rain is expected to pick up gradually and become more frequent between Saturday and Monday.

Farmers should expect more regular rain starting this weekend, especially in the afternoons and evenings.

In Nyandarua, Laikipia, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Murang’a, Kiambu, Meru, Embu, Tharaka Nithi and Nairobi, the rains will increase after a few dry mornings.

In Marsabit, Mandera, Wajir, Garissa and Isiolo, rains are expected to be more consistent through the weekend.

Even in the usually dry Kitui, Makueni, Machakos, Kajiado and Taita Taveta as well as inland Tana River, rains will start returning.

In Mombasa, Kilifi, Lamu and Kwale, including the Tana Delta, light showers are expected to continue.

This renewed rainfall fits with the earlier monthly outlook, which had warned that April would start slowly before rains strengthen later.

The country experienced reduced rainfall in late March and early April, but weather experts said this was temporary.

Temperatures will remain high in some areas, especially in the north and Coast, but the return of rain is expected to improve soil moisture.

International climate experts are predicting the return of El Niño later this year.

According to the latest update from the Climate Prediction Center, there is a strong likelihood that the current weather patterns will shift significantly, bringing a period of heavy rainfall and warmer temperatures by the second half of this year.

The world has been experiencing La Niña for the past several months, a phenomenon that often brings drier conditions to East Africa.

However, new data shows the ocean temperatures are beginning to rise, and a transition to "neutral" conditions is expected between now and July.

By the period of June to August, there is a 62 per cent chance that El Niño will officially emerge, according to the US the Climate Prediction Center.

Forecasters believe this pattern will then persist through the end of the year, potentially impacting the short rain season that typically occurs between October and December. This shift is caused by changes in trade winds and water temperatures in the tropical Pacific, which disrupt global weather.

El Niño years in Kenya are historically associated with intense rainfall that can lead to flooding in low-lying areas, though it can also provide a boost for hydroelectric power and water reservoirs.