Monday, July 28, 2025 - The Kenya Meteorological Department has addressed growing curiosity among Kenyans about why July tends to be the coldest month of the year.
In a statement issued on Monday, July 28th, the
department outlined four main factors behind the chilly weather.
First, widespread stratified cloud cover over Nairobi, the
Central Highlands, parts of the Rift Valley, and southeastern Kenya
significantly reduces sunlight and surface warming. This persistent cloud layer
limits daytime heating, making temperatures drop.
Second, high-pressure systems influence atmospheric
stability and help form thick cloud “blankets” that trap cooler air and hinder
warming.
Third, Kenya’s topography contributes to the cold. Elevated
regions like Nairobi and most of the Central Highlands sit over 1,500 meters
above sea level, naturally making them cooler.
Lastly, the Southern Hemisphere winter also plays a role.
During this season, cold and dry air masses from the south sweep across Kenya,
reinforcing the chill.
The statement was issued after a Kenyan queried why the
local “winter” is cloudy, unlike sunny winters in northern regions.
In its July 25th weekly weather forecast, Kenya
Met warned of temperatures between 10°C and 12°C in parts of the Rift Valley,
Southeastern Lowlands, and Highlands East and West of the Rift Valley -
including Nairobi, Nyeri, Kiambu, Nakuru, and Uasin Gishu.
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