CLIMATE & WEATHER OF MOUNT KENYA: Mount Kenya is uniquely located near the Equator to its South. Together with its high elevation / altitude, the mountain has an equatorial mountain climate and diverse weather patterns. With every increase in altitude, the climatic zones on the mountain vary.
The year is divided into 2 seasons, the Dry (late December to mid-March) and Wet (mid-March to May, October to mid-December) seasons which correspond with the seasons in the lowlands of Kenya.
CLIMATE & WEATHER OF MOUNT KENYA: Climate zones;
- Equatorial climate at the lower slopes (mountain base up to 2,000 m)
- Temperate climate in the middle slopes (2,000 – 3,000 m)
- Alpine climate in the higher slopes (3,000 – 4,000 m)
- Arctic climate at the summits (above 4,000 m)
Mount Kenya’s temperatures fluctuate greatly especially in the lower slopes below the Moorland zone.
An ice cap used to cover Mt. Kenya till it eroded the tops to reveal the volcanos’ current peaks, Batian, Nelion and Pt. Lenana.
The South Eastern slopes of Mt. Kenya are wetter than the Northern slopes that receive less precipitation.
The increase in climatic changes as a result of global warming are affecting the glaciers on Mt. Kenya which are predicated to go extinct in the near future.
