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A resident of Wamagana village in Tetu shield herself from cold on June
28, 2016. According to Aberdare Region Director of Meteorology Francis
Nguatah, the weather temperatures are likely to go below 10 degrees
Celsius in July all the way to August. PHOTO | JOSEPH KANYI | NATION
MEDIA GROUP
By IRENE MUGO
Brace yourselves for even colder weather as we approach the peak of the season, the Kenya Metrological Department has warned.
According to Aberdare Region Director of Meteorology Francis Nguatah, temperatures are likely to drop to below 10 degrees Celsius in July all the way to August.
Average temperatures in the country have ranged from 11 degrees to 15 degrees, with the lowest, 9.9 degrees Celsius, recorded last month.
Nyahururu marked the lowest temperatures in the central region last week, at four degrees Celsius, closely followed by Nyandarua on Monday, at six degrees Celsius.
This week, regions in the Lake Victoria Basin, highlands west of the Rift Valley, the central and south Rift Valley will experience the lowest temperatures at six degrees Celsius to eight degrees Celsius.
The counties in these regions will experience “showers and thunderstorms”, as similar conditions are expected to continue over the western parts of the country.
IMPACT ON AGRICULTURE
Also, slightly warmer temperatures are expected over several parts of the country as the forecast period progresses.
Coastal regions are likely to receive more rainfall compared with counties in the central parts of the country, said the department.
According to the weatherman, the presence of frost will impede agriculture as plants are unlikely to obtain optimal growth because there is insufficient warmth to boost germination.
“Plants are not doing well, the erratic weather conditions are too unpredictable for the plants to [withstand],” said Mr Nguatah.
He said that when the weather is too cold, plant cells shrink, and when it is too hot the plants are unable to withstand the impact.
Mr Nguatah urged residents to try as much as possible to keep warm to curb diseases such as arthritis and asthma.
“For those who use charcoal to keep warm, they should ensure their houses are well ventilated,” he said. “Road users must be careful as the weather will [cause] poor visibility.”
Due to the cold weather, maize production in Nyeri is expected to decline.
CREDIT: NMG
According to Aberdare Region Director of Meteorology Francis Nguatah, temperatures are likely to drop to below 10 degrees Celsius in July all the way to August.
Average temperatures in the country have ranged from 11 degrees to 15 degrees, with the lowest, 9.9 degrees Celsius, recorded last month.
Nyahururu marked the lowest temperatures in the central region last week, at four degrees Celsius, closely followed by Nyandarua on Monday, at six degrees Celsius.
This week, regions in the Lake Victoria Basin, highlands west of the Rift Valley, the central and south Rift Valley will experience the lowest temperatures at six degrees Celsius to eight degrees Celsius.
The counties in these regions will experience “showers and thunderstorms”, as similar conditions are expected to continue over the western parts of the country.
IMPACT ON AGRICULTURE
Also, slightly warmer temperatures are expected over several parts of the country as the forecast period progresses.
Coastal regions are likely to receive more rainfall compared with counties in the central parts of the country, said the department.
According to the weatherman, the presence of frost will impede agriculture as plants are unlikely to obtain optimal growth because there is insufficient warmth to boost germination.
“Plants are not doing well, the erratic weather conditions are too unpredictable for the plants to [withstand],” said Mr Nguatah.
He said that when the weather is too cold, plant cells shrink, and when it is too hot the plants are unable to withstand the impact.
Mr Nguatah urged residents to try as much as possible to keep warm to curb diseases such as arthritis and asthma.
“For those who use charcoal to keep warm, they should ensure their houses are well ventilated,” he said. “Road users must be careful as the weather will [cause] poor visibility.”
Due to the cold weather, maize production in Nyeri is expected to decline.
CREDIT: NMG
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