Rare 'snowfall' in Kenya creates social media buzz

david nganga

July 5, 2017 4:29 PM

Social media was awash with photos of the 'snow' though the Met Department had a different view on the natural phenomenon

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Residents of Nyahururu town in Kenya were on Tuesday evening treated to a rare case of snow falling as temperatures dropped with the current cold season.

The peculiar weather occurrence brought things to a standstill after centimetres of hail covered the Rumuruti-Nyahururu and the Nyahururu-Maralal roads.

Residents and motorists alike took to social media to post photos and videos of the natural phenomenon:

Not even the Ugandan Opposition leader Kizza Besigye was left out in tweeting about the phenomenon:

And amidst all the excitement of the snow fall, the Kenya meteorological department was quick to clarify the incident as a case of rare hail storm and not snow.

Snow in Kenya is a rare incidence given the country’s close proximity to the Equator as well as vast arid and semi-arid regions.

However, Nyahururu is close to Mt. Kenya, Africa’s highest mountain, hence making it possible for a snow fall in the region.

david nganga