Eastern Africa: Caution Needed in the Wake of Heavy Rains

By Gift Briton

As the short rain season continues, residents in Eastern Africa should take proactive measures and stay alert for early warnings and potential weather anomalies, such as enhanced rainfall, to mitigate any negative impacts.

The latest weather forecast by the IGAD’s Climate Prediction and Application Centre (ICPAC) indicate that areas including eastern to south-western South Sudan, central to western Uganda, Rwanda, northern Burundi, western to northern Tanzania, most parts of southern Kenya, and parts of southern Somalia are expected to receive above-average rainfall in the next seven days.

In particular, exceptional rainfall is expected across southern areas of Kenya, northern Tanzania, Rwanda, and part of northern Burundi.

However, light to moderate rainfall is expected in the southern to central Tanzania, central to northern Kenya, eastern Uganda, much of central to southern South Sudan, southern Ethiopia, and part of southern Somalia.

Also, whereas several areas are expected to receive enhanced rainfall, ICPAC’s prediction shows that few places in central Kenya, north-eastern Somalia, southern Burundi, and central to southern Tanzania will experience less than usual rainfall.

ICPAC also warns of warmer than usual temperatures over most parts of the Eastern Africa regions, with cautionary heat stress levels expected in eastern regions of Kenya, coastal Tanzania, South Sudan, and parts of southern Somalia.

Most parts of Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Somalia, Djibouti, Eritrea, and north-eastern and southern Ethiopia are likely to experience Moderate to high temperatures (20-32℃).