Counties in Northern Kenya to experience first heat wave in the country. [Photo|maion.com]
Counties in Northern Kenya might experience elevated temperatures due to heat wave that is expected to hit the country.
The weatherman issued the warning of a possible heat wave in Kenya with temperatures rising to over 40 degrees Celsius in some parts of the country.
Garissa County will be affected by the high temperatures together with other counties such as Moyale, Marsabit, Wajir, Mandera, Garbatulla, Lodwar, Lokichoggio and Lokitaung.
The head of the meteorological services Peter Ambenje said this would be the first time Kenya has experienced a heatwave.
According to Ambenje, bursts of extreme heat will hit northern Kenya counties this month and could trigger the weather condition that is expected to worsen drought and sandstorms in these counties.
Speaking on Wednesday, he said the Coast strip will also experience high temperatures throughout the month.
“The expected high daytime time temperatures (30 - 40°C) in Northwestern and Northeastern parts of the country may give rise to heat waves that are a potential health risk,” he said.
According to the Star, a heat wave is a period of abnormally and uncomfortably hot and usually humid weather adding that elevated heat can kill when the body is unable to cool itself effectively.
Ambenje, however, said that the entire country will remain generally sunny and dry in January.
“A few areas in western Kenya, especially those to the south of the Lake Victoria and the southern parts of central Rift Valley are, however, likely to experience occasional light to moderate rainfall that may occasionally spread to the central region including Nairobi,” he added.
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