There is no impending El-Nino, Kenya Meteorological Service assures

Floods are some of the negative impacts of El-Nino. [PHOTO: STANDARD]

NAIROBI, KENYA: The Kenya Meteorological Service (KMS) has dismissed recent reports   over an eminent El-Nino occurrence in the country.

James Kongoti, Ag. Director, KMS said that the content of information relating to EL-Nino conditions in the country that had been disseminated to the general public had been done without reference to KMS.

He further noted that only KMS that was authorized to provide guidance on the current status and development of El-Nino conditions and its potential impacts on the rainfall patterns in Kenya.

“The information is not only confusing Kenyans but also creating anxiety and panic. It is therefore imperative that technical advice be sort from KMS prior to such information being disseminated to the general public,” he said.

The director said that the current projections from Global models are for a high possibility of an El-Nino developing to full maturity in the equatorial Pacific Ocean.

However he was quick to note that the indications for the full development and maturity of El-nino conditions will be clearer in August and it is during that time that KMS will issue the outlook for the 2014 "Short Rains" (Oct-Nov-Dec) rainfall season in the country.

Kongoti also noted that the Service is monitoring the evolutions of the event every week and month and will keep Kenyans updated on the potential development.

“The seasonal outlook to be issued at the end of August / early September will provide a clear picture as to how El-Nino and other factors will influence the rainfall patterns to be experienced in Oct-Nov-Dec 2014.”He reiterated.

According to the director not all El-Ninos result in the devastation and loss of property that was experienced in 1997/98 in terms of heavy rainfall in the country and urged Kenyans note to panic in the event of the mention of an El-Nino occurrence.

“The latest Global model outputs for the development of El-Nino are not showing a “Mother” of all El-Ninos occurring. Apparently, this is the sort of the information being communicated to the Kenyan public. Members of public are, in this context, urged to treat such information with utmost care and seek clarification from this Service”, he added.