What Causes Severe Rainfall in Kenya?
2024-05-03
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1Heavy rains and severe flooding have been hitting Kenya since March.
2They are among the most disastrous rainstorms to hit the East African country in recent years.
3At least 169 people have died from the heavy rains.
4At least 91 others are missing, the latest government estimates say.
5On Monday, at least 48 people died after water blew through a blocked river tunnel under a railway line in southwestern Kenya.
6The flooding has displaced more than 190,000 people and damaged roads and other structures.
7Seasonal weather patterns, climate change and other natural weather events all combine to create deadly rainstorms.
8Kenya and some other parts of eastern Africa have two main rainfall periods:
9the "long rains" season from March to May, and the "short rains" season from October to December.
10The "long rains" season is when most of the country's average yearly rainfall happens.
11In its forecast for this year's "long rains" season, the Kenya Meteorological Department predicted above-average rainfall in many parts of the country.
12It also warned of flooding, landslides and other harmful effects.
13Last year's "short rains" season saw severe storms in many parts of the country.
14The meteorological department said Lamu, Mombasa and Garissa areas received nearly three times their long-term average rainfall.
15Kenya's rainfall frequency and intensity are affected by a natural climate system called the Indian Ocean Dipole.
16The Indian Ocean Dipole makes the surface of the western Indian Ocean warmer and then colder than the eastern Indian Ocean.
17It causes heavy rainfall in areas west of the Indian Ocean, such as Kenya, and droughts in Indonesia and Australia.
18Joyce Kimutai is a researcher at Imperial College London.
19She said that, in Kenya's case, the Indian Ocean Dipole and climate change are likely bringing more severe rainfall and flooding.
20In a study in December last year, Kimutai and other scientists from World Weather Attribution found that human-caused climate change had made last year's "short rains" season in Kenya and other parts of eastern Africa up to two times more intense.
21It has become more difficult to predict long-term weather in Kenya in recent years.
22The start and the length of dry and wet seasons have increasingly changed.
23The Kenya Meteorological Department expects the "long rains" season to continue into June.
24In its latest weather report on Monday, the department said it expects heavy rain in six areas of the country.
25It also predicted flooding in low-lying areas and landslides in hilly areas.
26Flooding in East Africa also has killed more than 150 people in neighboring Tanzania and Somalia.
27It has also affected hundreds of thousands of people in Ethiopia and Burundi.
28I'm Andrew Smith.
1Heavy rains and severe flooding have been hitting Kenya since March. They are among the most disastrous rainstorms to hit the East African country in recent years. 2At least 169 people have died from the heavy rains. At least 91 others are missing, the latest government estimates say. 3On Monday, at least 48 people died after water blew through a blocked river tunnel under a railway line in southwestern Kenya. 4The flooding has displaced more than 190,000 people and damaged roads and other structures. 5Seasonal weather patterns, climate change and other natural weather events all combine to create deadly rainstorms. 6Long rainy season 7Kenya and some other parts of eastern Africa have two main rainfall periods: the "long rains" season from March to May, and the "short rains" season from October to December. 8The "long rains" season is when most of the country's average yearly rainfall happens. 9In its forecast for this year's "long rains" season, the Kenya Meteorological Department predicted above-average rainfall in many parts of the country. It also warned of flooding, landslides and other harmful effects. 10Last year's "short rains" season saw severe storms in many parts of the country. The meteorological department said Lamu, Mombasa and Garissa areas received nearly three times their long-term average rainfall. 11Why is the rain so severe? 12Kenya's rainfall frequency and intensity are affected by a natural climate system called the Indian Ocean Dipole. 13The Indian Ocean Dipole makes the surface of the western Indian Ocean warmer and then colder than the eastern Indian Ocean. It causes heavy rainfall in areas west of the Indian Ocean, such as Kenya, and droughts in Indonesia and Australia. 14Joyce Kimutai is a researcher at Imperial College London. She said that, in Kenya's case, the Indian Ocean Dipole and climate change are likely bringing more severe rainfall and flooding. 15In a study in December last year, Kimutai and other scientists from World Weather Attribution found that human-caused climate change had made last year's "short rains" season in Kenya and other parts of eastern Africa up to two times more intense. 16When will "long rains" end? 17It has become more difficult to predict long-term weather in Kenya in recent years. The start and the length of dry and wet seasons have increasingly changed. 18The Kenya Meteorological Department expects the "long rains" season to continue into June. In its latest weather report on Monday, the department said it expects heavy rain in six areas of the country. It also predicted flooding in low-lying areas and landslides in hilly areas. 19Flooding in East Africa also has killed more than 150 people in neighboring Tanzania and Somalia. It has also affected hundreds of thousands of people in Ethiopia and Burundi. 20I'm Andrew Smith. 21Carlos Mureithi reported this story for The Associated Press. Hai Do adapted it for Learning English. 22_______________________________________________ 23Words in This Story 24pattern - n. regular and repeated way in which something happens 25forecast - n. statement about what you think is going to happen 26frequency - n. the fact or condition of happening often 27drought - n. a long period of time with little or no rain