The Kenya Meteorological Department has issued a seven day marine outlook warning that sea conditions along the Kenya Coast and nearby waters of the Western Indian Ocean may pose risks to small boats and other marine activities in the coming days.
The forecast covering March 11 to March 17, 2026 indicates that sea conditions will range from slight to moderate, with wave heights expected to vary between 0.2 and 1.7 metres across waters shared by Kenya, Somalia and Tanzania.
The department says changing wind patterns and wave movement during the period could create unstable conditions in some areas, prompting mariners to remain cautious while at sea.
In its advisory, the Kenya Meteorological Department noted that wind direction during the forecast period will mainly shift from northerly to south-south-easterly across the region.
“Mostly Northerly to South-South-Easterly winds are expected over Somalia, Kenya, and Tanzania waters with wind speeds of 1 to 35 knots (0.5–17.5 m/s) throughout the forecast period,” the statement read in part.
The agency said sea waves are expected to travel from east-north-easterly to southerly directions. These changes will contribute to sea conditions that could fluctuate between calm and moderately rough across different parts of the coastline and offshore waters.
“Slight to moderate sea conditions with wave heights of 0.2–1.7m (0.6–5.1ft) are expected over the Somalia, Kenya, and Tanzania waters throughout the forecast period,” the report stated.
Weather experts indicated that winds during the week will range from light to fresh breezes, measuring between 0.5 and 17.5 metres per second, equivalent to 1 to 35 knots. Under such conditions, small vessels may experience splashes of water and occasional instability, particularly in areas where wind speed and wave height increase.
The department also released daily projections showing wave heights between 0.2 and 1.7 metres and wind speeds of between 1 and 22 knots across the coming days.
Mariners have been urged to watch for sections of the ocean where the sea may become rough, with waves possibly reaching up to four metres. In extreme cases, the department warned that waves exceeding 4.1 metres would indicate very rough sea conditions where marine activities may need to be suspended.
In addition to wave and wind forecasts, the agency highlighted expected tidal changes along the coastline. High tides during the forecast period are projected to range from 1.88 metres to 3.19 metres, while low tides are expected to vary between 0.56 metres and 1.62 metres.
“This forecast should be used in conjunction with the daily marine forecast issued by this Department,” the report emphasized, urging continuous monitoring for safe navigation.
The Kenya Meteorological Department also acknowledged support from several international marine monitoring partners that contribute data used in ocean forecasting. These include ESSO-Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services, Mercator Ocean, and the Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service.
“The ocean state may be disturbed at times, and the prevailing conditions can be dangerous for marine operations. Mariners are urged to exercise extreme caution and follow safety guidelines,” KMD stated.
The marine advisory comes as Kenya continues to deal with the impact of heavy rains that have caused flooding in several parts of the country, including Nairobi.
According to the National Police Service, the floods have claimed at least 49 lives and forced 2,624 families from their homes. The disaster has also damaged houses, roads, and other public facilities, including police installations.