According to the climate outlook, over the rest of the GHA areas June to September 2016 is a dry season and these areas are expected to remain generally dry during the forecast period/FILE
NAIVASHA, Kenya, Jun 2 – There will be above normal rainfall over most of the northern parts of the Greater Horn of Africa (GHA) including Western Kenya, southern parts of Sudan, most of Eritrea, South Sudan and Djibouti; Northern part of Uganda; as well as western, central and northern Ethiopia.
Speaking when he released the regional outlook, the representative to the Director of the Kenya Meteorological Department, Elijah Bukachi said the outlook is only relevant for this season. He also noted that local and month-to-month variations might occur as the June to September 2016 season progresses.
Bukachi says there is an increased likelihood of near normal to below normal rainfall over coastal and the western parts of the equatorial sector during the next rainfall season between June to September 2016: including much of Uganda, northern coast of Tanzania, Kenyan coast and southern coast of Somalia.
According to the climate outlook, over the rest of the GHA areas June to September 2016 is a dry season and these areas are expected to remain generally dry during the forecast period.
These include northern half of Sudan; eastern parts of Ethiopia; eastern parts of Kenya; almost all of Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and much of Somalia; and southern parts of Uganda.
June to September constitutes an important rainfall season over the northern sector of the GHA region.
“I am sure with the early warning that there is a likelihood of a La Nina phenomenon manifesting itself during the later part of the year and with the discussions on preparedness and response for the post El Niño impact, the representatives of the various sectors are better prepared on how to respond to the future extreme events,” said Bukachi.
He pointed out that the Global climate centers under the coordination of World Meteorological Organisation will continue to provide status of global climate updates.
“We should strive to disseminate the early warning messages that will come out of this meeting at all levels of the region by using different platforms to maximize and reach more people in IGAD/EAC region,” commented Guleid Artan Director of ICPAC.
The 43rd Greater Horn of Africa Climate Outlook Forum was convened by ICPAC and sponsored by World Bank, USAID, UNDP, UK MET and UNISDR; hosted by the Government of Kenya through the Kenya Meteorological Department, to formulate a consensus regional climate outlook for the June to September 2016 rainfall season over the GHA region.
The GHA region comprises Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.
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