Experts warn of more ‘fish and frogs’ rain
What you need to know:
- Meteorologists say the unusual spectacle caused by climate change
Days after fish and frogs “rained” from the sky in Nakuru, weather experts have warned Kenyans to expect more such spectacles.
“This is going to occur more often because of climate change,” Kenya Meteorological Department director Joseph Mukabana said on Tuesday.
Dr Mukabana said fish and frogs are sucked from the water surface by strong winds into the clouds, which eventually rain down all that has been collected.
Falling from sky
When this happens on land, it is referred to as a tornado but if it occurs on water, it is called a waterspout.
The Lake Victoria basin is among areas where this has been reported.
The reports of fish, frogs and other objects falling from the sky in a downpour in Nakuru were received last week.
Other recent strange weather occurrences include snow in parts of Nyahururu.
The Meteorological Department also issued an advisory on the La Nina phenomenon, which is expected to result in reduced rainfall.
“Severe weather conditions are fingerprints of climate change,” said Dr Philip Omondi of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development Climate Prediction and Application Centre.
The two were speaking on the sidelines of a workshop to launch a regional project that aims to enhance forecasting of severe weather in Eastern Africa.
The Severe Weather Forecasting and Demonstration Project was launched in conjunction with the World Meteorological Organisation.
Environment minister John Michuki told the workshop in a speech read on his behalf by ministry official Ben Mugambi that Africa suffers from severe weather such as heavy rainfall, strong winds, fog, sandstorms, tornadoes, hailstorms and cyclones.
