The Chilly ‘July’ Weather Is Officially Here With Us, Stay Warm.

The month of June is not yet over, yet it is already shaping up to be one of the coldest ones in recent years.

In many ways July is just a continuation of June weather-wise in Kenya. Most counties see about the same temperature range and the same or slightly cooler weather with some experiencing some levels of rainfall. July marks the beginning of a drop in daily average temperatures that will continue on a daily basis through to August.

If you now think that you have seen cold weather after what you experienced yesterday and what we expect today, prepare for more of the same till July. Not to say that the sun will, but generally speaking, be a rare visitor especially in July which is usually a wet month.

July is the first really wet month of the year. You will see some rain more often than not in some areas. You will get wet. You will get muddy. But that is to be expected. The counties bordering The Aberdare Ranges and the greater Mt. Kenya Region will see even more rain than elsewhere.

However, this relatively cool season, from late-June to October, gets much less rain.

According to the Kenya Meteorological Department’s outlook for June-July-August 2016 period, The Central Highlands (Kiambu, Nyeri, Embu, Meru, Murang’a); Nairobi Area (Dagoretti, Kabete, Wilson, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Eastleigh etc); are likely to experience cool and cloudy conditions with occasional light rains/drizzles.

Occasional prolonged hours of overcast skies (cloudy conditions) resulting to cold and chilly conditions are expected. The daytime temperatures are, however, likely to be slightly warmer than average during the period. A few days may turn out to be extremely cold with temperatures falling below 18°C in some areas.

HEALTH:

In areas such as Nairobi, Central highlands, Central Rift Valley and parts of the highlands west of the Rift Valley, cases of respiratory diseases like asthma, pneumonia and common colds (flu) are expected to be on the increase due to the expected cool/cold conditions. The general public (especially the young and elderly members of society) is advised to adopt warm dress code to avoid contracting such diseases.

TRANSPORT AND PUBLIC SAFETY:

The wet conditions expected over Western Kenya and some parts of Central Rift Valley may lead to transport problems, especially in areas where the roads become impassable when it rains. Foggy conditions expected along the Nairobi-Naivasha road may lead to poor visibility, a situation that poses danger to motorists and pedestrians, especially along the Kikuyu-Kinungi stretch. All should, therefore, take utmost care to minimise accidents that may result from such weather conditions.

Landing at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) may occasionally be made impossible by thick fog and associated very poor visibility leading to diversion of aircrafts to other airports.

The month of July is characterised by essentially constant daily high temperatures, with daily highs around 22°C throughout the month, exceeding 24°C or dropping below 19°C only one day in ten. The median cloud cover is usually 81% (mostly cloudy) and does not vary substantially over the course of the month. The probability that precipitation (showers) will be observed varies throughout the month. Throughout the chilly season, the most common forms of precipitation are light rain, moderate rain, drizzle, and thunderstorms.

The relative humidity typically ranges from 51% (mildly humid) to 96% (very humid) over the course of a typical July, rarely dropping below 41% (comfortable) and reaching as high as 98% (very humid).

ADVISORY:

During chilly days, the public is advised not to be lighting jikos in poorly ventilated houses. Burning charcoal produces Carbon Monoxide gas that is lethal when inhaled.