Major FAQ-Kenya
Climate and Clothes
Each of Kenya's various topographical regions experience distinct climates.
Generally, the hottest time is in February and March and the coldest in July and August.
The coastal region is largely humid and wet. The city of Malindi, for instance, receives an average rainfall of 1,050 mm (41 in) per year, with average temperatures ranging from 21° to 32°C (70° to 90°F) in January and 20° to 29°C (68° to 84°F) in July.
The low plateau area is the driest part of the country. In this region the town of Wajir receives an average annual rainfall of 320 mm (13 in) and experiences average temperatures ranging from 19° to 37°C (66° to 99°F) in January and 19° to 34°C (66° to 93°F) in July.
Nairobi, in the temperate Kenyan highlands, receives an average annual rainfall of 790 mm (31 in) and experiences average temperatures ranging from 9° to 29°C (48° to 84°F) in January and 7° to 26°C (45° to 79°F) in July.
Higher elevation areas in the highlands receive much more rainfall. The Lake Victoria basin in western Kenya is generally the wettest region in the country. It is particularly wet in the highland regions to the north and south of Kisumu, where average annual rainfall ranges from 1,740 mm (70 in) to 1,940 mm (80 in). Average temperatures in this region range from 14° to 34°C (57° to 93°F) in January and 14° to 30°C (57° to 86°F) in July.
The average annual temperatures in the main areas are:
Mombasa (coastal): Max 30ºC, Min 22ºC
Nairobi: Max 25ºC, Min 13ºC
North Plainlands: Max 34ºC, Min 23ºC
Rainfall occurs seasonally throughout most of Kenya. The coast, eastern plateaus and lake basin experience two rainy seasons:
The "long rains" season extends roughly from March to June throughout the country. The "short rains" lasts from approximately October to December.
The highlands of western Kenya have a single rainy season, lasting from March to September.
All parts of the country are subject to periodic droughts, or delays in the start of the rainy seasons. Kenya's climate has profoundly affected the location of settlement patterns, as for centuries population has been concentrated in the wettest areas of the country.
To check the current weather condition of Kenya please click here |
