NAOMI NYANGITO ENGLISH1201-3 12-13-2011THE KENYAN CLIMATE INTRODUCTIONKenya lies across the equator on the East of the African continent.
Neighboring countries are Ethiopia to the north, Somalia to the east, Tanzania to the south, Uganda to west and Sudan to the north-west. Kenyan enjoys a tropical climate. However, the climate differs on the time and season of the year and the region, in a complicated and quite unpredictable way. This varies with the altitude above sea level widely spread throughout the year.It is hot and humidity at the coast, while in the inland and highland of lake Victoria and its surroundings its temperatures are high with plenty rains, moisture and very dry in the north and north- east parts of the country. The average annual temperature for the coastal town of Mombasa (altitude 17metres) 310 c (degrees Celsius) which is 880 f (degrees Fahrenheit’s) maximum between the month of January and February and 27 0 c (degrees Celsius) which is 810 f (degrees Fahrenheit’s) minimum between the month of July and August with rainfall of about 300mm.
Nairobi the capital city with (altitude of 1,661metres above sea level) where most tourist fly, but where they usually Stay for short time has highest temperature with rainfall of about 790mm and with climate of 480 f minimum and maximum of 840f during the month of January and 450f minimum and 790f maximum during the month of July. There are two main seasons for tourist tie which are the dry periods between December -January and July –August, one advantage of the other is during dry season wildlife animals can be spotted easily as animals are concentrated along the more scare water sources.
Whereas during the period of July-August is the best time for “game drives” (driving around the national parks to spot wildlife) when most of the wild animals are sleeping and relaxed because it is a little bit cooler. During long-rains between April-June most parks are sometimes closed as the tracks are muddy and undriveable. However, there are advantages of travelling in the rainy season since there are less tourist, hotels are available and prices are lower.And as noted early during the rainy seasons the rains are often heavy but short. North-eastern parts like Lowdar, Moyale and Wajir has an average climate of 660f low and 990f high during the month of January and 660f to 930 f in the month of July and rainfall of about 320mm mostly this parts are very dry and no farming activities are done.
The main activities which are being carried out are the rearing of cattle’s and camels.Inland and highland of Kenya the lake Victoria regions, the Western region and the Nyanza highland the climate is more moderate and conducive with high rainfall of about 1300 mm and temperatures as high as 600 f-800 f that is where most of the agricultural activities are practiced like farming, growing substance crops like maize, beans, potatoes, onions, tomatoes, various vegetables like cabbage, corrodes and many others. Cash crops like tea, coffee, sisal, pyrethrum and many more for export and local consumption.There is plenty of sunshine all the year around and summer clothes can be worn throughout the year.
However, it is usually cool at night and early in the morning. There are two types of rain season which occur all the year around in the country. The long rains which starts from the month of April to June and the other one is the short rains which starts from the Month of October to December. The rains are sometimes heavy but short bursts, especially in the afternoon and evenings.The hottest period is from February to March and the coldest months are July through August. Generally from January to March and from July to October is hot and dry.
From April to June and from November to December it is hot and wet. These wet periods are called long-rains and short-rains respectively. Although Kenya is centered at the equator, it shares the seasons of the southern hemisphere, with the warmest summer months of February-March and the cooler winter months in July-August, though only a few degree cooler on he high mountains such as Mt. Kenya, Elgon and Kilimanjaro, the weather can became bitterly cold for most of the year. Map of Kenya showing weather Work cited from www. kenya.
advisor. com/kenya-climate. html www. Kenya.
rcbowen. com/geography. kenya. rcbomen. com/geography/climate. html http://www.
climate. zone. com/climate/kenya www. kenya-information guide.
com/Kenya. weather. html
