Tuesday, June 19, 2012. Category: Diaspora News

he Kenya Meteorological Department has warned that the June to August season will see general drop in temperatures over the whole country during the period. The Met Dept in its seasonal forecast however noted that there will near normal rainfall being experienced in the western region and coastal strip. In a statement posted on the Kenya Meteorological Department website, the Met Department has warned that there will be a general drop in temperatures over the whole country during the June to August season. The Meteorological Department in its forecast however noted that the country is expected to be dry in most parts, with rainfall being experienced in the Western highlands, the Lake Victoria Basin, and parts of central Rift Valley, resulting in prospect of high agricultural production. The highlands and Nairobi area which are expected to experience chilly weather. The Central Highlands (Kiambu, Nyeri, Embu, Meru, Murang'a); Nairobi Area (Dagoretti, Kabete, Wilson, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Eastleigh are expected to experience cool conditions due to prolonged hours of overcast skies. The Meteorological Department says whereas there will expected to reduce to drizzle and light rains, these conditions could result in good soil moisture conditions which will help sustain favorable cropping conditions in the areas where crops were not destroyed by flooding or excessive rainfall. The department warned that respiratory ailments like asthma, pneumonia and common colds could increase in areas that are expected to experience chilly conditions. The Department advises that school going pupils are advised to adopt a warm clothing dress code during this period. The Meteorological department appealed to health authorities to facilitate supply of drugs necessary to combat diseases related to cold weather conditions adding that areas that are expected to experience water stress could see an outbreak of waterborne diseases including Cholera. Motorists have also been advised to be cautious when driving through the Kinungi-Kikuyu stretch due to fog while light aircrafts are advised to avoid the western sector and flying through deep cumulus clouds in the afternoon hours. "Such clouds are associated with severe turbulence (very strong updrafts and downdrafts and vertical wind movements) of air and cross-winds occasioned by strong convections and lightning that are a danger to transport," said the statement. The Department says and adds, "occasionally, thick fog associated with very poor visibility may render landing at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) impossible leading to diversion of aircrafts to other airports." In the advisory, the Meteorological Department says the risk of forest fires in the Arid and Semi Arid Lands (ASALs) is also possible and urges for caution by the authorities responsible.