The El Niño weather phenomenon is commonly associated with increased rainfall, but the weather phenomenon does not affect all regions in the same way, with some areas expected to experience extremely dry conditions in the coming weeks.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

In the build-up to the October-December short rains, the weatherman in Kenya has urged people to brace for unusually higher rainfall due to El Niño. Interestingly, in other areas of the world, their respective governments are bracing for extreme drought, but why is this so?

Unbeknownst to many, El Niño is not only linked to rainfall and flooding but to other weather diversions, and there is an interesting geographical reason behind this.

The phenomenon occurs when ocean temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific become warmer than usual. This warming affects atmospheric circulation and changes weather patterns far beyond the Pacific Ocean.

📌 What You Need to Know

That disruption changes where clouds form and where moisture is transported, meaning some parts of the world receive more rain while others become significantly drier.

In East Africa, the impact of El Niño has historically been associated with increased rainfall in parts of the region, particularly during certain seasons. However, the effects are not uniform across the world.

The World Meteorological Organisation has identified several regions where below-normal rainfall is more likely as the current El Niño strengthens.

Among them is the Indian subcontinent, where El Niño can interfere with the summer monsoon, an important source of rainfall for agriculture and water supplies.

India has already recorded below-average monsoon rainfall during parts of the 2026 season, with the country's meteorological authorities reporting rainfall 15 per cent below average between June 1 and September 9.

Southeast Asia is also facing heightened drought risks. Indonesia, for example, is expecting a delayed and shorter rainy season, with about 61 per cent of the country's land area forecast to experience a delayed onset of rains.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke