The Kenya Meteorological Department has cautioned fishermen and the coastalcommunities to be alert while undertaking their activities along the Kenyan Coast.
The weatherman has warned that the Coastal region is likely to experience strong winds and turbulent waters this week.
According to the Met department, Kenya’s coastal waters are expected to experience generally slight to moderate sea conditions over the next week.
Mariners, fishermen and coastal communities have been advised to remain alert and follow daily forecasts before embarking on marine activities.
The seven-day forecast, valid from March 11 to March 17, 2026, indicates winds mainly from the north-east to east, ranging between 2 and 20 knots.
Wave heights are expected to vary between 0.2 and 1.6 metres, producing slight to moderate sea conditions.
“Marine users should continue monitoring forecasts and exercise caution when planning activities, especially small-scale operators,” Kenya Met said.
Kenya Met’s forecast further indicates that North‑Easterly to South‑South‑Easterly Winds are expected to prevail over the entire Somalia, Kenya and Tanzania coastal waters throughout the period, with winds strengthening slightly over parts of the waters on specific days.
“Mostly Northerly to South‑South‑Easterly Winds are expected over Somalia, Kenya and Tanzania waters with wind speeds of 1 to 35 knots throughout the forecast period,” Kenya Met stated.
The department said that on March 12 and March 13, winds in the coastal waters, including areas off Mombasa and Kilifi, may occasionally strengthen toward the upper end of the forecast range, with winds close to 21–22 knots at times, especially during the afternoon and evening sea breeze periods.
Similarly, the forecast noted slightly higher wave activity on March 15, with wave heights increasing toward the 1.6–1.7 range in exposed offshore waters, reflecting the influence of stronger easterly winds over parts of the Western Indian Ocean.
Tidal variations are also expected, with high tides ranging from 1.88 metres on Friday, March 13, to 3.19 metres on Tuesday, March 17. Low tides are forecast to fluctuate between 0.56 metres and 1.62 metres during the period.
The department has classified sea states based on wave height and wind speed. Slight conditions, with waves of 0.6–1.0m and winds below 7 knots, are generally suitable for marine activities.
Slight to moderate conditions, with waves between 1.0–1.9m and winds between 7–21 knots, may pose some challenges, particularly for small boats.
Strong breezes exceeding 22 knots and waves above 3 metres are considered dangerous, and marine operations should be suspended under such conditions.
“Small boats are likely to experience instability and water spray in winds exceeding 7 knots. Mariners must exercise extreme caution,” Kenya Met stated.
The public is encouraged to access daily marine forecasts and advisories through Kenya Met’s official platforms, including: 7-Day Forecast & Maps: kenya.meteo.gov, County Forecasts: kenya.meteo.gov, WhatsApp Channel: https://t.co/hxKngV85ez and FASTA-Ken App: https://tinyurl.com/FASTAweather
Kenya Met urged coastal communities, especially fishermen and operators of small vessels, to always plan activities in line with these forecasts to ensure safety at sea.
