Residents of Nyeri were left in awe after a heavy downpour on Monday, sharing videos of what many believed to be snowfall. The unusual weather event quickly went viral, with social media users celebrating what they described as a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
A viral video posted on TikTok by user Glawie Lawrence captured the excitement. The caption read:
“Othaya’s First Snow! ❄️🌨️ After a heavy downpour, the skies cleared, and to our astonishment, we walked out to find a blanket of pristine white covering the ground.”
He added:
“It was the first time many of us had ever seen snow in this area, and it felt like something out of a dream! The air was crisp and cold, and the landscape was transformed into a beautiful white layer. It was truly a magical moment.”
The video quickly gained traction, with Kenyans making lighthearted jokes about the rare occurrence:
- Mesh Guitarist: “Haiiiya, Othayalifornia 😂.”
- Nancy John: “Sleeping in Kenyan summer and waking up in UK winter 😂.”
- Christine Gitonga: “Othayafornia.”
- Celine802: “Majuu i ajileta Kenya 😂🥰.”
Was It Really Snow? Experts Weigh In
Despite the excitement, meteorologists were quick to clarify that what residents witnessed was not snow but hailstones.
Hail and snow may look similar, but they form under different weather conditions:
- Snowflakes are ice crystals that form when water vapor crystallizes in freezing temperatures.
- Hailstones are ice balls created when water droplets freeze and collide in storm clouds.
- Snow forms in nimbostratus clouds, while hail is produced in cumulonimbus clouds—typically during thunderstorms.
- Hailstones can vary in size, with some being as large as a volleyball and weighing nearly two pounds.
Hailstorms in Kenya
While snowfall is extremely rare in Kenya, hailstorms have been reported in various regions, including Nyeri, Nyandarua, and Limuru. These weather events usually occur during intense thunderstorms, especially in high-altitude areas.
Though Nyeri’s ‘snowfall’ turned out to be a hailstorm, it still remains a fascinating weather event—one that residents will likely remember for years to come.
