Kenya Weather and Climate
Kenya is a country with different climate patterns because of its varied landscapes, vegetation types and closeness near the equator.
The factors affecting climate are altitude , vegetation, distance from water bodies and from the coast .
Most of Kenya is dominated by tropical climate which means temperatures are warm , highland areas like around Nairobi receive milder conditions and coastal areas like Mombasa , Malindi and Lamu experience hot and humid conditions.
On the other hand the eastern and northern parts of Kenya experience hot and drier conditions with lower amounts of rainfall.
The most distinctive features of Kenya ‘s climate are the two seasons experienced that is wet and dry . The wet season is characterized by long rains from March to May and short rains from October to November. The rains are important for agriculture which is the major economic activity in Kenya .
The dry season is characterized by hot temperatures and less rainfall in the months of December to February and June to August . This season is most suitable for tourism in the country because of the clear sightings of wildlife.
The amount of rainfall received in Kenya varies from region to region . The coastal and highland areas receive the highest amount of rainfall tanging from 800 to 2000 mm per year . The semi arid regions in the eastern and northern regions receive less amounts of rainfall ranging from 500 mm or below per year .
Because of the even distribution of rainfall landscapes can change depending . Highland and coastal areas are dominated by lush vegetation whereas eastern and northern areas are dominated by dry open Savannahs .
In addition to that the temperatures of Kenya are relatively consistent throughout the year . During day temperatures range between 20°C to 30°C and at night temperatures may drop up to 14 °C especially in highland areas like Nairobi .
Winds also greatly affect the weather of Kenya . The country experiences winds that blow from the indian ocean and surrounding masses .
From October to March the country experiences dry winds called kaskazi blowing from the Northeast of the country and they bring about dry conditions in most parts of the country.
From April to September the country experiences cooler winds that bring about wet conditions in the country .
By and large , Kenya ‘s weather and climate creates a dynamic environment that shapes the lives of its people and visitors and also changing the landscape dramatically.
