The Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) has issued a seven-day weather forecast for the period Tuesday, May 13 to Sunday, May 18, 2026, warning of continued rainfall in several zones.
“Rainfall is expected to continue in the Highlands East and West of the Rift Valley, the Lake Victoria Basin, the Rift Valley and some parts of the Coast, and Northwestern Kenya,” the department said.
According to the department, heavy rainfall events are likely in several of those zones during the first half of the forecast period, with intensity expected to ease from Thursday, May 15, 2026.
What to expect region by region
Residents in the Lake Victoria Basin and Rift Valley, covering counties such as Kisumu, Kericho, Nakuru, Narok, Bomet, Kisii, Kakamega and Siaya, among others, should expect morning showers over a few places, afternoon and evening thunderstorms over several places during the first half of the period, and night showers over isolated areas.
In the highlands east of the Rift Valley, which include Nairobi, Kiambu, Murang’a, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Embu, Meru, Tharaka-Nithi and Laikipia, morning rains are likely over a few places during the first half of the forecast period.
Afternoon showers and thunderstorms are expected over several places during that same period, tapering off thereafter, with night showers possible over isolated areas.
Northwestern Kenya can expect morning showers over a few to several places during the first half of the week, with afternoon and night showers likely over a few places in the same period.
In Northeastern Kenya, conditions are largely settled, with sunny intervals during the day and partly cloudy skies at night, though morning rains and isolated afternoon and night showers remain possible during the early part of the week.
The Southeastern Lowlands, covering counties such as Machakos, Kitui and Kajiado, will also see predominantly sunny daytime conditions and partly cloudy nights, though scattered morning rains and afternoon or night showers cannot be ruled out.
Along the Coast, morning, afternoon and night showers are likely over a few places during the first half of the forecast period.
Temperatures: Hot days in the north and coast, cold nights in the highlands
Daytime temperatures are forecast to exceed 30°C along the Coast, in parts of the Southeastern Lowlands, and across Northeastern and Northwestern Kenya – areas shown in orange and red on KMD’s maximum temperature forecast map.
In contrast, the Highlands East of the Rift Valley, the Central Rift Valley and areas near Mt. Kilimanjaro are expected to record overnight lows of below 10°C, according to the department’s minimum temperature outlook.
KMD has urged residents in areas likely to receive heavy rainfall to take precautions, advising the public to “avoid walking or driving through moving water,” to “not shelter under trees or near grilled windows during storms,” and to “exercise caution in landslide-prone and low-lying areas.”
The forecast comes as the country remains in the March–April–May long rains season.
