Rains to continue till end year

Motorists drive through a flooded road after heavy downpour in Narok Town yesterday.

The Kenya Meteorological Department has warned that the ongoing rains will continue to the end of the year.

In the monthly forecast, the Met stated that rainfall in several parts of the country will be above normal.

“The weather outlook, for December 2019 indicates that most parts of the country are likely to experience above-average rainfall. The rainfall distribution, both in time and space, is expected to be generally good. Episodes of heavy rain are likely to continue being experienced in several parts of the country during the period,” states the Met in its statement.

The department attributed heavy rains being experienced in most parts of the country to sea surface temperatures anomalies in the Indian, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. However, the rains are expected to subside in the last week of December.

On Friday, motorists spent hours on the road following floods in Kitengela.

The rains have wreaked havoc in several parts of the country with landslides in West Pokot claiming 50 lives last week.

For the next four days, the rains are expected to pound several parts of the country. Some of the areas the Met has flagged are Siaya, Kisumu, Homabay, Migori, Kisii, Nyamira, Trans Nzoia, Baringo, Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo-Marakwet, Nandi, Nakuru, Narok, Kericho, Bomet, Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma and Busia counties.

Counties falling within the highlands east of Rift Valley are also expected to experience heavy rainfall in the next four days. Counties in the South-Eastern and Coastal Kenya will have showers over several places. Other areas are expected to experience sunny intervals.

“Residents in all the mentioned areas are advised to be on the lookout for potential flash floods. Flood waters may suddenly appear even in places where it has not rained heavily and can be deeper and faster than they look. Residents are advised to avoid driving through, or walking in, moving water or open fields and not to shelter under trees and near grilled windows to minimise exposure to lighting strikes,” warned the Met.