Kenya Weather
What to expect of the climate in Kenya
Due to the differing topographical dimensions in Kenya, you will experience different weather patterns when travelling across Kenya.
By and large, Kenya climate is warm all year round, with plenty of sunshine and cools nights and mornings.
Generally, the hottest season falls between February and March with temperatures as high as 93°F while the coolest season falls between July and August with temperatures dropping to the lows of 40°F.
In Mombasa, Malindi and around the coastal regions, it is humid and hot. The city of Malindi, for instance, receives an average rainfall of 1,050 mm (41 in) per year, with average temperatures and weather forecast ranging from 70 to 90°F in January and 68°to 84°F in July.
The low plateau area is the driest part of the country. There, the town of Wajir receives an average annual rainfall of 320 mm (13 in) and experiences average temperatures ranging from 66° to 99°F in January and 66° to 93°F in July.
Nairobi, the capital, is in the temperate Kenya highlands and receives an average annual rainfall of 790 mm (31 in) with average temperatures ranging from 48° to 84°F in January and 45° to 79°F in July.
Higher altitude areas within the highlands receive much larger amounts of rainfall. The Lake Victoria basin in western Kenya is generally the wettest region in the country, particularly the highland regions to the north and south of Kisumu, where average annual rainfall ranges from 1,740 mm (70 in) to 1,940 mm (80 in). Average temperatures in this region range from 57° to 93°F in January and 57° to 86°F in July.
The average annual temperatures and climate in Kenya main areas is:
- Nairobi: Max 77°F , Min 55°F
- Mombasa (coast): Max 86°F, Min 72°F
- North plains: Max 93°F, Min 73°F
Kenya weather and rainfall
Rainfall occurs seasonally throughout most of Kenya. The coast, eastern plateaus and Lake Basin experience two rainy seasons: the "long rains" extends from March to June while the "short rains" occur from October to December. The highlands of western Kenya have a single rainy season, lasting from March to September.
All parts of the country are subject to periodic droughts, or delays in the start of the rainy seasons. Kenya's climate has had a profound effect on settlement patterns, as for centuries population has been concentrated in the wettest areas of the country.
If you're coming on a Kenya vacation or Kenya holiday, you will enjoy the weather because most of the Kenya tourist destinations have temperatures short of perfect. It's neither too hot nor too cool with long sun-filled days.
