Nairobi, Kenya

Samy Tracy

The climate in Nairobi, Kenya is very consistent. The weather in Nairobi is basically the same all year round. Nairobi has a hot climate and in the paragraphs below I will tell you the factors that influence the climate of Nairobi.

Nairobi, Kenya is located in the bands of latitude known as the low latitudes. These latitudes are between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. They receive direct sunlight all year round. This makes Nairobi a very hot climate. The latitude of Nairobi, Kenya is about 1 degrees south.

The role of elevation in creating Nairobi's climate is significant. For every 1,000 feet gained, temperatures drop 3.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Since Nairobi is 5,328 feet above sea level we can identify a greater than 18 degrees Fahrenheit cooling influence. However, to put this in perspective, consider nearby Mt. Kenya. At 17,057 feet tall, the temperature is 60 degrees Fahrenheit cooler at the top than it would be at sea level.

The influence of landforms involves Nairobi being inland. Places next to big bodies of water have moderated temperatures, because the water absorbs heat and releases it slowly. Inland places, such as Nairobi, experience temperature extremes.

Due to its location near the equator, Nairobi experiences the doldrums. This means it is an area that does not have strong prevailing winds. Ocean currents are also not a factor, since Nairobi is inland.

This city does not have much variety when it comes to the climate. It is basically just hot. It seems the low latitude heating influence is stronger than the elevation cooling factor. Wind patterns and ocean currents do not play a part and the inland location encourages extreme heat.