Kenyans living along the coastal areas have been placed on high alert after the Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) issued a warning about an approaching tropical storm named Chenge.
The weather agency explained that the system, which started as a low-pressure zone, is currently weakening but still carries the potential to bring heavy rainfall, strong winds, and turbulent sea conditions over the next few days.
In a public alert released on Sunday, the weatherman said they were closely monitoring tropical storm Chenge as it continued to move slowly across the Indian Ocean.
According to Kenya Met, as of Sunday, October 26, the storm was located roughly 500 kilometres north of Madagascar and was moving westward at a speed of about 11 kilometres per hour.
Meteorologists explained that when Chenge reaches the coastal regions of Kenya and Tanzania, it is expected to cause intense rainfall, powerful winds, and high ocean waves. “Chenge, a weakening weather system over the southwest Indian Ocean, is moving west at about 11 km/h, situated approximately 500 km north of Madagascar.
It currently has wind speeds of 55 km/h, gusts up to 75 km/h, and a central pressure near 1000 hPa,” the Kenya Met statement noted.
The storm originated as a low-pressure system in the southwest Indian Ocean before developing into a tropical storm. Though it has started to lose its intensity, its winds still blow at around 55 kilometres per hour, with occasional gusts reaching 75 kilometres per hour.
Experts say the good news is that Chenge is gradually weakening as it nears the East African coast. However, they also cautioned that even a weakening system can still release large amounts of moisture and energy, which could trigger heavy rains, flooding, and dangerous sea conditions along the Kenyan shoreline.
As a result, the Kenya Meteorological Department has advised residents in coastal counties such as Mombasa, Kilifi, Lamu, and Malindi to prepare for possible heavy rainfall, strong winds exceeding 25 knots, and rough seas.
The department warned that flooding could occur, especially in low-lying areas and along poorly drained roads, if the rains persist over several days in the coming week.
“It is expected that the system will dissipate near the Tanzania–Kenya coast by Tuesday. However, heavy rains and strong coastal winds exceeding 25 knots are still likely to occur across several parts of the country,” Kenya Met further added.
The alert also emphasized that fishermen and small boat operators along the coast will be among the most affected. The department urged them to suspend marine activities temporarily as the storm could make the ocean unsafe, with waves and wind conditions posing a threat to smaller vessels.
In addition to the coastal strip, inland counties close to the coast such as Kwale, Taita Taveta, and Tana River are also expected to experience heavy rainfall and localized flooding as a result of the storm’s influence.
Although the system is predicted to completely weaken by Tuesday, meteorologists warned that the remnants of Chenge could continue to affect weather conditions for several days afterward.
These remnants may bring cloudy skies, light to moderate rainfall, and occasional thunderstorms to various parts of the country, especially in regions near the coast.
The Kenya Meteorological Department urged the public to stay updated through official forecasts and advisories, avoid unnecessary travel in flood-prone areas, and take safety precautions as the country braces for unstable weather in the coming days.
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