Climate & Energy Design Data

Updated 2026-08-31

Climate Design Data: Embu, Kenya

How to research climate design data for a specific site in Embu — the controlling authority, source documents, and checks to run before you rely on a number.

Last updated August 31, 2026 · Location data from the [GeoNames KE dump](https://download.geonames.org/export/dump/KE.zip) (CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-08-31, GeoNames ID 198476). Regulatory starting point: [National Construction Authority and the applicable county government](https://www.nca.go.ke/). Figures are illustrative — verify against the current locally adopted edition for the site. Climate screening data from the [NASA POWER Climatology API documentation](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/docs/services/api/temporal/climatology/) and [exact point response](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/api/temporal/climatology/point?parameters=T2M%2CT2M_MAX%2CT2M_MIN%2CRH2M%2CPRECTOTCORR%2CWS10M&community=SB&longitude=37.45743&latitude=-0.53987&format=JSON), retrieved 2026-08-31; source period: 20-year Meteorological and Solar Monthly & Annual Climatologies (January 2001 - December 2020). NASA POWER values are gridded screening statistics, not code design conditions or guaranteed local observations.

Direct answer

NASA POWER's 2001–2020 climatology at the Embu reference point reports an annual mean 2 m temperature of 20.4 °C and relative humidity of 70.7%. The highest monthly maximum is 34.0 °C in February, while the lowest monthly minimum is 10.2 °C in January; these are screening statistics, not code design temperatures. The point response uses LST and the 20-year Meteorological and Solar Monthly & Annual Climatologies (January 2001 - December 2020); its annual corrected precipitation is 2.68 mm/day and annual 10 m wind speed is 2.96 m/s. For climate design data, use the 34.0 °C and 10.2 °C monthly extrema to screen seasonal exposure, then obtain the adopted percentile design conditions. NASA POWER is gridded climatology: verify elevation, microclimate, urban exposure, station or weather-file suitability, current code edition and the authority's required source before design use.

Prepared by Harth · Harth transformed the cited NASA POWER climatology into this screening table; project design conditions and local applicability remain unreviewed · Published 2026-08-26 · Updated 2026-08-31.

What must be verified for Embu?

Embu is represented here at approximately -0.5399, 37.4574 for discovery and workflow planning. A project address, parcel, elevation, exposure, authority, and submission date must replace that city-centre reference before design use.

How should climate design data be established?

  1. Fix the surveyed site and local time basis.
  2. Select an authoritative weather source or a named solar-position algorithm.
  3. Record period, percentile or scenario and units.
  4. Test sensitivity to elevation, exposure, urban form and horizon.
  5. Save the source file, retrieval date and checker in the model record.
InputProject-specific evidenceQA question
Sitesurveyed coordinates, elevation and horizonDoes the point represent the building?
Weather/solar methodnamed dataset, algorithm, period and time basisAre station, time zone and units explicit?
Design scenariocurrent and future scenario agreed by the teamIs an average being mistaken for an extreme?
Complianceadopted local document and editionWas applicability confirmed with the authority?

What are the limits of this worksheet?

This climate-design-workflow page is a project-starting worksheet, not a design value or approval. The controlling authority and qualified professionals for the Embu site remain authoritative.

This primary route consolidates the location evidence needed for Climate Design Data, Weather File Guide, Overheating Weather Data, Building Climate Checklist. A narrower route should be released only when it adds a materially different official source, calculation, process, threshold or worked example.

Embu NASA POWER monthly climate screening table

MonthMean °CMonthly max °CMonthly min °CRH %Precipitation mm/dayWind at 10 m m/s
January20.7932.4010.1565.251.353.16
February21.8433.9711.7660.491.033.24
March22.2633.7313.1264.582.633.05
April21.2833.8714.3475.676.102.87
May20.1730.2712.4477.603.412.76
June19.2330.0311.4874.631.682.57
July18.7129.3610.9971.701.462.71
August19.0630.0710.3970.061.832.92
September20.2731.5311.9065.791.623.04
October20.9031.4412.5569.083.383.09
November20.3530.2313.2578.264.953.04
December20.2230.9210.9274.302.673.10

Month-by-month climate interpretation

  • January: mean temperature 20.79 °C is 0.38 °C above the annual mean; the monthly max–min span is 22.25 °C. Relative humidity is 65.25% (5.41 points below annual), while corrected precipitation at 1.35 mm/day is 1.33 mm/day drier than the annual daily rate.
  • February: mean temperature 21.84 °C is 1.43 °C above the annual mean; the monthly max–min span is 22.21 °C. Relative humidity is 60.49% (10.17 points below annual), while corrected precipitation at 1.03 mm/day is 1.65 mm/day drier than the annual daily rate.
  • March: mean temperature 22.26 °C is 1.85 °C above the annual mean; the monthly max–min span is 20.61 °C. Relative humidity is 64.58% (6.08 points below annual), while corrected precipitation at 2.63 mm/day is 0.05 mm/day drier than the annual daily rate.
  • April: mean temperature 21.28 °C is 0.87 °C above the annual mean; the monthly max–min span is 19.53 °C. Relative humidity is 75.67% (5.01 points above annual), while corrected precipitation at 6.10 mm/day is 3.42 mm/day wetter than the annual daily rate.
  • May: mean temperature 20.17 °C is 0.24 °C below the annual mean; the monthly max–min span is 17.83 °C. Relative humidity is 77.60% (6.94 points above annual), while corrected precipitation at 3.41 mm/day is 0.73 mm/day wetter than the annual daily rate.
  • June: mean temperature 19.23 °C is 1.18 °C below the annual mean; the monthly max–min span is 18.55 °C. Relative humidity is 74.63% (3.97 points above annual), while corrected precipitation at 1.68 mm/day is 1.00 mm/day drier than the annual daily rate.
  • July: mean temperature 18.71 °C is 1.70 °C below the annual mean; the monthly max–min span is 18.37 °C. Relative humidity is 71.70% (1.04 points above annual), while corrected precipitation at 1.46 mm/day is 1.22 mm/day drier than the annual daily rate.
  • August: mean temperature 19.06 °C is 1.35 °C below the annual mean; the monthly max–min span is 19.68 °C. Relative humidity is 70.06% (0.60 points below annual), while corrected precipitation at 1.83 mm/day is 0.85 mm/day drier than the annual daily rate.
  • September: mean temperature 20.27 °C is 0.14 °C below the annual mean; the monthly max–min span is 19.63 °C. Relative humidity is 65.79% (4.87 points below annual), while corrected precipitation at 1.62 mm/day is 1.06 mm/day drier than the annual daily rate.
  • October: mean temperature 20.90 °C is 0.49 °C above the annual mean; the monthly max–min span is 18.89 °C. Relative humidity is 69.08% (1.58 points below annual), while corrected precipitation at 3.38 mm/day is 0.70 mm/day wetter than the annual daily rate.
  • November: mean temperature 20.35 °C is 0.06 °C below the annual mean; the monthly max–min span is 16.98 °C. Relative humidity is 78.26% (7.60 points above annual), while corrected precipitation at 4.95 mm/day is 2.27 mm/day wetter than the annual daily rate.
  • December: mean temperature 20.22 °C is 0.19 °C below the annual mean; the monthly max–min span is 20.00 °C. Relative humidity is 74.30% (3.64 points above annual), while corrected precipitation at 2.67 mm/day is 0.01 mm/day drier than the annual daily rate.

Harth retrieved this point climatology from NASA POWER API v2.9.7 for location record 198476. It is a reproducible screening dataset, not an hourly weather file, forecast, code design condition or substitute for local professional review.

Sources and method

Location data from the GeoNames KE dump (CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-08-31, GeoNames ID 198476). Regulatory starting point: National Construction Authority and the applicable county government. Figures are illustrative — verify against the current locally adopted edition for the site. Climate screening data from the NASA POWER Climatology API documentation and exact point response, retrieved 2026-08-31; source period: 20-year Meteorological and Solar Monthly & Annual Climatologies (January 2001 - December 2020). NASA POWER values are gridded screening statistics, not code design conditions or guaranteed local observations.

Frequently asked questions

What does NASA POWER climatology show for Embu?

For the Embu reference point, the 2001–2020 NASA POWER climatology reports 20.4 °C annual mean temperature, 70.7% relative humidity and 2.68 mm/day corrected precipitation. The monthly maximum peaks at 34.0 °C in February.

Can the Embu climatology replace project design temperatures or an hourly weather file?

No. The Embu response is gridded monthly climatology; its lowest monthly minimum of 10.2 °C in January is not a code percentile or observed site extreme. Verify elevation, local exposure, the required weather file or design-condition source and the current adopted code.

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