July cold weather in Uganda blamed on SA winter

Jul 31, 2017

“The winds blowing into Uganda and Kenya are coming from a very cold region in southern Africa."

ENVIRONMENT | WEATHER

The cold weather currently being experienced in most parts of Uganda and Kenya has been blamed on cold winds blowing from South Africa, according to the Uganda National Meteorological Authority (UNMA).

"We often experience cold and wet conditions at this time of the year in the region and July is the coldest month of the year," said James Bataze, senior meteorologist at UNMA.

He said there were very cold winds blowing from southern Africa into Uganda and Kenya. South Africa is currently experiencing winter and most of the winds that influence weather for eastern Africa come from South Africa, according to Bataze.

"The winds blowing into Uganda and Kenya are coming from a very cold region in southern Africa and they are also blowing over the sea," said the weather expert, adding that this has influenced the cold conditions prevailing in Uganda and Kenya.

The two east African nations are sitting along the equator, which are warm areas throughout the year. Uganda and Kenya have snow only on the highest peaks of Mountains Rwenzori and Kenya. Tanzania's  Mt. Kilimanjaro also has snow.

However, Marsabit and parts of Laikipia north of Nairobi experienced heavy hailstorm two weeks ago that lasted about a day, something that led some people to say that winter had come to Kenya.

Bataze said the rainmaking belt, Intertropical Convergence Zone, where winds containing moisture converge, is currently in northern Uganda or the northern hemisphere. He said this has influenced rainfall patterns in parts of eastern and central Uganda.

 UNMA's 10-day weather forecast in July stated that wet conditions were highly concentrated in some areas of Elgon sub-region, West Nile and northern parts of the country.

The statements predicted wet conditions to prevail over the northern, northwestern, northeastern and the eastern regions.

During the last week of July, Lake Victoria basin, central and parts of western in the Albertine region were projected to experience isolated showers and thunderstorms. In the same period, dry conditions were expected to persist in the southwestern and southern cattle corridor and the chances for light showers were to be marginal.

Between July 10 and July 20, the highest average maximum temperature recorded was 31.5 degrees Celsius at Buginyanya Weather Station in eastern Uganda.

The minimum temperatures for this period of 9.5 degrees Celsius to 18.7 degrees Celsius were recorded respectively at Kabale Weather Station and Kiige Weather Station in Kamuli district. The lowest of daily minimum temperatures of 7.5 degrees Celsius was observed at Kabale.

In the seasonal weather forecast for three months released at the beginning of June, UNMA said the rain would continue in northern Uganda but the southern part of the country was expected to experience a dry spell starting July.

The southern sector of the country was set for a three-month dry spell though it was expected to be interrupted by some rain.

 

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