Kenyans have been cautioned to brace for a heat wave in the coming days by Climate scientists at the IGAD Climate Predictions and Application Centre (ICPAC).
According ICPAC report released on Friday, February 21, there will be above-average temperatures in the larger Eastern African region. The scientists revealed that elevated heat stress was expected in several areas, including Eastern Kenya, South Sudan, Eastern Tanzania, Southern Sudan, and Southern Somalia.
Individuals residing in these regions were cautioned that the harsh conditions could significantly impact both human health and agriculture.
While southeastern Sudan was predicted to experience temperatures exceeding 32°C, temperatures of between 20-32°C were projected in the greater Horn of Africa, affecting some parts of Kenya. However, mild temperature conditions of less than 20°C were expected over parts of Northern Sudan, the Ethiopian highlands, and Central and Western Kenya.
“Warmer than usual temperatures over most parts of the GHA, while cooler than usual temperatures are expected over parts of coastal regions of Somalia and Kenya,” the specialised institution of the IGAD said.
Meanwhile, the experts noted that light rainfall, under 50 millimetres, was also expected over parts of southern and central Tanzania, a few regions in coastal Kenya, and southwestern South Sudan.
The report indicated that the region’s vulnerability to climate change was becoming more apparent and that the extreme conditions could have a lasting impact on both ecosystems and local populations.
The report comes on the back of the Kenya Meteorological Department’s advisory that only sunny, dry, and hot weather conditions were expected to prevail over most parts of the country in the coming week.
In its weekly weather forecast released on Friday, February 21, the weather department noted that maximum temperatures of more than 30°C were predicted over most parts of the country except over the Highlands east of the Rift Valley.
Similarly, Kenya Met predicted strong southeasterly winds of more than 25 knots or 12.9 metres per second in parts of northwestern and northeastern Kenya.