Tanzania's meteorological agency has warned that a "very strong" El Niño is forming over the Indian Ocean, with this year's Vuli rains expected to begin in late September or early October, intensify through November 2026, and persist beyond. According to Daily News, TMA Director General Dr Ladislaus Chang'a issued the warning as concerns grow that extreme weather could trigger a wave of non-performing loans, prompting calls for Tanzanian banks to prepare for climate-related financial risks.

Kenya Meteorological Department Principal Meteorologist Joyce Kimutai has said the 2026 El Niño is unlikely to produce rainfall on the scale recorded in 1997, though Kenya should still expect above-normal rainfall. Speaking in an interview on September 9, Kimutai said current El Niño conditions are relatively weaker than those of 1997, according to The Kenya Times.

Hannah Kimani, head of the Public Weather Services Section at the Kenya Meteorological Service Authority, has said that the El Niño climate pattern is already affecting Kenya rather than approaching, bringing unexpected heat and prolonged dry spells across several regions. Speaking at the 5th Annual Journalists Climate Training hosted by Power Shift Africa in Kigali, Rwanda, she explained that many people misunderstand what the warming cycle entails.

South Nyanza Meteorological Officer Naphtali Odhoch has announced that the region is expected to experience increased rainfall from September through January next year. According to Odhoch, the rains will begin in parts of Rongo and Homa Bay in the coming days before spreading to other parts of the region. The forecast follows the release of a national climate outlook by the Kenya Meteorological Service Authority, as reported by the Kenya News Agency.

Kenya's meteorological agency has forecast rainfall in the Coast and Rift Valley counties while most of the country remains dry. The forecast comes as Kenya prepares for the October to December short-rains season. According to the agency, farmers and communities are being urged to take early preparedness measures ahead of the seasonal rains to reduce potential disruptions and make use of the expected precipitation.

The Kenya Times reports that El Niño is not a single weather event but exists in three distinct forms, according to scientists. These variations develop in different parts of the Pacific Ocean and produce differing effects on weather patterns worldwide, including in Kenya. The article explains that understanding these differences matters for a country like Kenya, where El Niño events significantly influence rainfall, agriculture, and economic planning, potentially shaping the nation's future climate preparedness.