The Federal Government has released a three-day weather forecast warning Nigerians to expect thunderstorms and moderate rainfall in several parts of the country from Sunday to Tuesday.
The forecast was issued by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) in its latest weather outlook released in Abuja, with the agency predicting varying weather conditions across the northern, North-Central and southern parts of the country.
For Sunday, NiMet said the northern region would experience sunny weather with patches of clouds and possible early morning thunderstorms. Light rainfall was expected in parts of Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Kaduna, Borno, Taraba and Adamawa states.
The agency said the weather could become more unsettled later in the day, with thunderstorms accompanied by moderate rainfall expected across several parts of the region.
“Later during the afternoon or evening hours, thunderstorms accompanied by moderate rains are expected over most parts of the region,” NiMet said.
In the North-Central region, the agency forecast sunny skies with patches of clouds and possible early morning thunderstorms. Light rainfall was expected over parts of Kwara, Niger, Kogi and the Federal Capital Territory, while thunderstorms with moderate rainfall could occur in most parts of the region during the afternoon and evening.
The southern region is expected to experience predominantly cloudy conditions on Sunday, with light rainfall possible in parts of Oyo, Delta, Bayelsa, Cross River and Akwa Ibom states during the morning.
NiMet said moderate rainfall would later develop over parts of Ondo, Ekiti, Osun, Imo, Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi, Delta, Edo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross River and Akwa Ibom states.
The weather pattern is expected to continue into Monday, although the areas affected by rainfall and thunderstorms are expected to vary.
NiMet said sunny skies with patches of clouds would prevail over the northern region in the morning, with thunderstorms and moderate rainfall possible over parts of Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara states.
“Later in the afternoon or evening hours, thunderstorms accompanied by moderate rains are expected over parts of Yobe, Jigawa, Borno, Gombe, Bauchi, Taraba and Adamawa states,” the agency said.
For the North-Central region, NiMet forecast cloudy skies with spells of sunshine and possible morning thunderstorms accompanied by moderate rainfall over parts of Niger, Kwara, Nasarawa and the FCT.
By the afternoon and evening, the agency said sunny weather with a few patches of clouds would dominate most parts of the region.
In the southern states, cloudy conditions are expected on Monday, with light rainfall likely over most parts of the South-West during the morning. Moderate rainfall is forecast over parts of the South-South and South-East later in the day.
NiMet’s forecast for Tuesday indicates that the northern region would begin the day with sunny skies and a few patches of clouds before thunderstorms develop later in the day.
The agency said thunderstorms accompanied by moderate rainfall were expected over parts of Katsina, Kano, Kebbi, Kaduna and the North-East during the afternoon and evening.
“Sunny skies with patches of clouds are anticipated over the North Central region during the morning hours,” NiMet said, adding that thunderstorms with moderate rainfall were expected across most parts of the region later in the day.
The southern region is expected to remain cloudy on Tuesday, with light rainfall possible over parts of Akwa Ibom and Cross River during the morning. Moderate rainfall is expected across the region in the afternoon and evening.
NiMet warned that strong winds could occur before thunderstorms in areas where such weather conditions are expected.
The agency urged residents to secure loose objects that could be blown away by strong winds and advised motorists to exercise caution during periods of heavy rainfall.
“Driving under heavy rain should be avoided,” NiMet said.
It also advised Nigerians to disconnect electrical appliances from power sockets during thunderstorms and stay away from tall trees to reduce the risk of injury from falling branches or broken trees.
“Disconnect electrical appliances from electrical sockets. Stay away from tall trees to avoid impact from falling branches and broken trees,” the agency said.
Airline operators were also advised to obtain airport-specific weather reports and flight documentation from NiMet to assist them in planning their operations safely.
The agency urged residents to remain attentive to weather updates throughout the three-day period, particularly in areas where thunderstorms and heavy rainfall are forecast.
The latest outlook comes amid continuing concerns over flooding in parts of the country following warnings from the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) about rising water levels and the risk of flooding in several states.
Residents in flood-prone areas are therefore expected to exercise caution, especially during periods of prolonged or intense rainfall, while motorists are advised to avoid driving through flooded roads or attempting to cross moving floodwaters.