Tropical Storm IALY: Keep off deep sea areas, Met warns

The Kenya Meteorological Department is warning of moderate to strong sea conditions due to the effects of tropical storm IALY.

The Director of Meteorological Services Dr. David Gikungu is asking operators of small boats and crafts to avoid deep-sea areas as waves are expected to be as high as 3.6meters, hence a danger to small boats.

Dr. Gikungu is attributing this to the strong southerly winds with speeds of over 15 meters per second “As a result of tropical storm IALY, expect south-easterly winds at 10-30 knots over Kenya waters,” says Dr. Gikungu and adds, “Wave heights will range from 1.5 to 3.6meters.”

In the seven-days forecast, the Weatherman says that rainfall with isolated heavy rainfall events, is expected to continue over the Lake Basin, Highlands East and West of the Rift Valley, Central and southern Rift Valley, North-western, parts of the Coast and North-eastern regions, the Lake Victoria Basin and the Rift Valley.

Heavy rainfall is expected in the counties of Kisumu, Homabay, Siaya, Migori, Busia, Kisii, Nyamira and Nandi. The others are Kericho, Bomet, Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma, Narok, Baringo, Nakuru, Trans-Nzoia and Uasin-Gishu.

The rest are; Elgeyo-Marakwet, West-Pokot, Turkana, Samburu, Nyandarua, Laikipia, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Murang’a, Kiambu, Nairobi, Machakos, Kajiado, Mombasa, Tana-River, Kilifi, Lamu, and Kwale.

The rainfall is likely to reduce in intensity beginning Wednesday but will intensify along the coastal strip and last until Friday which could be accompanied by gusty winds, large Ocean Waves in the Indian Ocean and strong southerly winds in the eastern region.

The High average daytime temperatures of more than 30 degrees Celsius are expected along the coastal strip, North-eastern and North-western Kenya.  Average night-time temperatures of below 10 degrees Celsius will be experienced over parts of the  Highlands East of the Rift Valley.