Residents of Nairobi should prepare for a significant increase in rainfall starting Thursday, as the Kenya Meteorological Department forecasts a shift to heavier and more widespread showers across the capital and surrounding regions.
The Kenya Meteorological Department in its latest weekly outlook, indicated that the week will begin with light rains in a few areas, but conditions are expected to intensify from Thursday, bringing afternoon and night showers, some of which could be accompanied by thunderstorms.
For Nairobi and the wider Highlands East of the Rift Valley, residents should expect a mix of morning rains in isolated areas followed by more consistent showers later in the day.
The rains are likely to spread to more locations as the week progresses, signaling the onset of a wetter spell in the city.
The forecast covers the period between March 17 and March 23, with rainfall expected in several parts of the country, including both the Highlands East and West of the Rift Valley, the Lake Victoria Basin, the Rift Valley, South-eastern lowlands and the Coast.
Counties in the Highlands East region likely to experience the intensified rains include Nyandarua, Laikipia, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Murang’a, Kiambu, Meru, Embu and Tharaka-Nithi.
A similar pattern is expected across the Highlands West of the Rift Valley and the Lake Victoria Basin, covering counties such as Kakamega, Kisumu, Nandi, Bungoma, Kisii and Narok, where early-week sunshine will gradually give way to showers and possible thunderstorms.
In the South-eastern lowlands, including Machakos, Kitui, Makueni, Kajiado and Taita Taveta, rainfall is also expected, while coastal counties such as Mombasa, Kilifi, Lamu and Kwale will experience showers that are likely to intensify toward the end of the week.
However, the Kenya Meteorological Department has warned that some of these areas, including Nairobi, could experience sporadic heavy rainfall, raising the risk of localized flooding, especially in low-lying and poorly drained areas.
The advisory comes at a time when Kenya is transitioning into the long rains season (March–May), which typically brings the heaviest rainfall of the year and is often associated with flooding in urban centres like Nairobi.
Meanwhile, parts of North-Eastern and North-Western Kenya are expected to remain largely sunny and dry, with minimal rainfall activity during the same period.
Kenyans have been urged to stay updated with daily weather forecasts and take necessary precautions, particularly those living in flood-prone areas, as the rains intensify later in the week.