By Ongaga Ongaga
The Kenya Meteorological Department has released a heavy rainfall advisory forecasting intensified downpours across various parts of the country from April 22 to April 27, 2026.
In the advisory published on Tuesday, the department warned that rainfall is “likely to intensify, with accumulations exceeding 20mm in 24 hours” in affected areas, especially along the Coast and portions of the Northeastern and Southeastern lowlands.
The alert, categorized as moderate to heavy severity, carries a “moderate probability of occurrence (33% to 66% chance)”, indicating significant but not guaranteed impacts.
Counties projected to be affected include Kwale, Mombasa, Kilifi, Tana River, Lamu, Garissa, and parts of Wajir, Mandera, Taita-Taveta, Kitui, and Makueni.
According to the advisory, “rainfall is expected to continue across several parts of the country,” with conditions deteriorating throughout the five-day period.
In addition to heavy rainfall, the department cautioned about other weather hazards.
“The upcoming rainfall may be accompanied by gusty winds exceeding 25 knots (12.5 m/s),” the notice stated.
Coastal regions also face risks, with “sea waves expected to reach heights of more than 2 meters along the Coast,” raising concerns for maritime safety.
Authorities are advising residents in affected areas to remain alert due to the increased risk of floods and reduced visibility.
“People in all the mentioned areas should remain vigilant for potential floods, flash floods, and poor visibility,” the advisory warned.
The department further noted that flooding might occur even in areas without heavy rainfall, explaining that “flood waters may occur in areas where it has not rained heavily, particularly downstream.”
Residents have been instructed to take precautionary measures, including avoiding driving or walking through moving water and staying away from open fields during storms.
“To ensure safety, residents are advised to avoid driving through or walking in moving water… not to shelter under trees or near grilled windows to minimize exposure to lightning strikes,” the advisory stated.
Those involved in maritime activities have also been warned to exercise caution due to rough sea conditions.
Government and Agencies Notified
The advisory has been shared with key government offices and agencies, including the Presidency, the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, the National Disaster Operations Centre, the Kenya Red Cross, and county governments, among others.
The meteorological department indicated that updates will be issued promptly should there be any changes in the weather outlook.
“Updates will be provided promptly if there are any changes,” the notice concluded.
The advisory was issued by the Acting Director of the Kenya Meteorological Department.