The Kenya Meteorological Department has released its 24-hour weather forecast for the period beginning at 9pm on Monday, August 31, 2026, and running through to 9pm on Tuesday, September 1, 2026. Kenya Met released the 24-hour weather forecast, warning of rainfall in 18 counties. The bulletin, signed by acting director Edward Muriuki, indicates that most parts of the country will remain generally dry during this period, though a number of counties are expected to receive rainfall. Counties expected to receive rainfall Counties flagged for possible rain include Busia, Bungoma, Nyeri, Embu, Kirinyaga, Murang’a, Kiambu, Nyandarua, Tharaka Nithi, Meru, Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, Lamu, Taita Taveta, Marsabit, Wajir, and Nairobi. In the Mount Kenya region, Nyeri, Murang’a, and Kiambu are forecast to experience light showers tonight, with light rains also likely in some areas during Tuesday morning before conditions clear to sunny intervals in the afternoon. Kirinyaga residents face a chance of light showers overnight. Nairobi can expect partly cloudy skies with a chance of light showers in the morning, followed by cloudy conditions with sunny intervals in the afternoon. Temperatures in the capital are forecast to range between a minimum of 13°C and a maximum of 24°C. In western Kenya, Bungoma and Busia face a chance of light showers during the evening hours, while other counties in the region, including Kakamega, Vihiga, Kisumu, Siaya, Kericho, and Bomet, are forecast to remain largely dry with sunny intervals expected through the day.
Strong winds forecast for northern and coastal counties The department has also flagged strong southerly and southeasterly winds exceeding 25 knots (12.5 m/s) over a broad swathe of counties, including Turkana, Marsabit, Isiolo, Garissa, Mandera, Wajir, Tana River, Taita Taveta, Kwale, Kilifi, Lamu, and Kitui. Turkana is forecast to record the highest temperatures in the country, with a maximum of 36°C and a minimum of 25°C. Makueni is expected to reach a high of 29°C, while cooler conditions are anticipated in highland counties such as Nyandarua, where temperatures are forecast to range between 8°C and 18°C. Across the Rift Valley, counties including Nakuru, Narok, Kajiado, Uasin Gishu, and Elgeyo Marakwet are forecast to experience partly cloudy to sunny conditions with no significant rainfall expected. The government warned of El Nino floods in the month of October. Photo: Simon Maina. Source: Getty Images El Nino warning by government The Kenya Meteorological Service Authority placed the probability of a strong El Niño developing this year at 81%, with a 97% likelihood that its effects will extend into early 2027.
Counties to be affected by El Niño A national risk assessment produced by the National Disaster Operations Centre (NDOC) identified specific threats in each affected region, including flash floods, landslides, drought, disease outbreaks and damage to critical infrastructure. In a press release issued on Monday, August 10, the government said the mapping exercise formed part of a broader preparedness strategy intended to reduce harm ahead of the anticipated weather event.
