Weather briefing · Sources checked 23 September 2026
The official outlook for October–December 2026 forecasts above-average rainfall across much of Kenya, including Bungoma, Busia, Kakamega and Vihiga. The bulletin was issued on 31 August 2026 and covers the coming short-rains season. Read the outlook.
For farmers, the distinction between a wet season and a reliable sequence of rainy days matters. A three-month forecast does not identify the weather on every field or guarantee that rainfall will be evenly distributed.
Turn the outlook into questions for your farm
Before committing the season’s input budget, discuss local conditions with a county extension officer. Ask about crop choice, drainage, access routes and protecting seed and harvested produce if wet weather interrupts work.
A useful planning sheet can have three columns: the task, the weather condition needed and the fallback if that condition is delayed. Land preparation, sowing, spraying and harvesting do not all require the same conditions.
Keep checking shorter forecasts
Return to the official forecast service and local updates as the season approaches. County bulletins and shorter-range forecasts help put the national outlook in context.
The forecast is an indication of likely seasonal conditions, not proof that flooding will occur on a particular property. Nor should one shower be treated as confirmation that a suitable planting window has arrived. Use the outlook to support local planning and discussion with agricultural advisers rather than prescribe a single planting date.
Reporting note: Prepared with AI assistance from the official sources linked in this article. Photo: VickyOmondi / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Maize growing in Siaya County. Archive photograph, not a photograph of the forecast period. Resized for display.
