To underscore the importance of improving weather forecasts for timely flood warnings and community preparedness, recent events in Marsabit County stand out. Within the past 24 hours, Marsabit County received an unexpected 55.6 millimeters of rainfall, as reported by the Kenya Meteorological Department. This unanticipated rainfall event contradicted previous government forecasts that had ruled out the projected El Nino rains across the nation.
The Marsabit Meteorological Station, along with other county stations, diligently recorded this rainfall, spanning from 9 am on October 24 to 9 am this morning. Sadly, the unexpected deluge resulted in local reports of two individuals, a 70-year-old man, and a six-year-old child, being swept away by the ensuing floods.
In response to the anticipated El Nino rains, the national government had earlier allocated resources to county governments to prepare for these eventualities. However, given the recent adjustment in weather predictions by the meteorological department, it is now reported that these resources are being redirected to address other pressing concerns. These events underscore the pressing need for accurate and timely weather forecasts to better prepare and protect communities from the impact of severe floods
https://www.citizen.digital/news/heavy-rains-recorded-in-marsabit-within-the-last-24-hours-met-department-n330014
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59 w
The recent unexpected rainfall in Marsabit County highlights the critical need for accurate and reliable weather forecasting systems. With a stark contrast between government projections and the actual 55.6 millimeters of rainfall within 24 hours, it underscores the potential pitfalls of relying solely on forecasted data. Improved forecasting isn't just about predicting weather patterns but also about ensuring community preparedness, especially for events like floods. This serves as a poignant reminder of the necessity for advanced, precise meteorological tools and systems to provide timely warnings, enabling communities to brace for and mitigate the impacts of such unforeseen weather events.
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63 w
Climate change, has made it difficult to predict weather patterns, but this shouldn't be an excuser! Let them deploy other alternatives.
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59 w
@gorffly_mokua i agree... if the traditional methods are failing then alternatives should be deployed
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63 w
The delays in handling communication and relay of information to the relevant authorities is costing us lives and livelihoods.
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59 w
@peter_kamau the government needs to look for working alternatives to prevent the devastation being experienced
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63 w
Clear and reliable source of info is essential in matter flood warnings and preparedness.
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@rashid_kamau yes without proper information it is hard to prevent these deadly floods
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63 w
The topic of enhancing weather forecasts for timely flood warnings and community preparedness is crucial in today's world where climate change has led to more frequent and severe weather events. By improving weather forecasting, we can provide early warnings to communities in flood-prone areas, allowing them to take necessary precautions and minimize the impact of floods. This can also help in disaster preparedness and response planning by governments and aid agencies. It is important that we prioritize investments in weather forecasting technology and infrastructure to ensure the safety and well-being of our communities.
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@walter_lungayi i agree we should invest in weather forecast to prevent dangerous crisis
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63 w
I agree. Their warnings either are guesswork and don't Pam out or arrive too late
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@munene_mugambi they should adapt working measures for timely predictions
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Negligence is a bad thing since sooner or later people will still ignore the realities of climate change and then be victims of the crisis
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@johnte_ndeto i definitely agree people perish due to negligence and ignorance
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This is really saddening, I suggest the Metrology Department of Kenya to have one channel of communication to avoid confusion and questionable reactions. Its really sad for one to say people should expect ELNINO while another in the same department contarvines this. Matters to do with climate change effects are life and death situations and must be handled as such.
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@joseph_githinji the metrological department of Kenya should do better to prevent miscommunication and miscalculations