The Federal Government, through the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), has issued a weather alert predicting widespread thunderstorms and rainfall across the country from Saturday through Monday.
In its three-day forecast released on Friday in Abuja, NiMet warned of significant weather activity across the northern, central, and southern regions of Nigeria.
On Saturday, the agency projected early morning thunderstorms in parts of Taraba, Kebbi, Zamfara, Kaduna, and Adamawa States. Later in the day, the storms are expected to intensify, affecting Kebbi, Taraba, Zamfara, Borno, Kaduna, Sokoto, Gombe, and Bauchi States.
“In the North-Central region, early morning thunderstorms are expected over parts of Benue, Plateau, Niger, the Federal Capital Territory, and Nasarawa States,” the agency stated.
“Later in the day, thunderstorms with rains are anticipated over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Niger, Nasarawa, Benue, Kwara, Kogi, and Plateau States.”
In the South, NiMet forecasted a cloudy morning with likely rainfall in Enugu, Ebonyi, Cross River, Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Bayelsa States. As the day progresses, Imo, Enugu, Abia, Ebonyi, Anambra, Ondo, Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ekiti, Edo, Delta, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, and Rivers States are also expected to experience isolated thunderstorms and rain.
For Sunday, NiMet expects a continuation of similar weather patterns. Morning thunderstorms are likely in Kaduna, Kebbi, Adamawa, and Taraba, followed by widespread storms in Taraba, Adamawa, Kebbi, Kaduna, Zamfara, Gombe, and Bauchi later in the day.
In the North-Central region, “patches of clouds with sunshine intervals with prospects of early morning thunderstorms likely to affect parts of Kogi, Kwara, Plateau, Niger, Nasarawa, Benue, and the Federal Capital Territory,” were anticipated.
“Later in the day, thunderstorms with rains are anticipated over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Niger, Nasarawa, Kwara, Kogi, Benue, and Plateau States.”
Southern Nigeria will again see storm activity, beginning with morning thunderstorms in Delta, Lagos, Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River, extending to most parts of the region as the day progresses.
The pattern is expected to persist into Monday, with early morning thunderstorms over Kebbi, Zamfara, Kaduna, Adamawa, and Taraba, and later occurrences in Taraba, Adamawa, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Zamfara, Gombe, Kaduna, and Bauchi.
In the central region, NiMet forecasted “patches of clouds with sunshine intervals… with prospects of thunderstorms with rains over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, Benue, Kogi, and Niger States.”
“Thunderstorms are expected over parts of Kwara, Plateau, Nasarawa, Niger, Benue, and Kogi States in the afternoon or evening hours,” it added.
The Southern region is forecasted to begin the day with a cloudy atmosphere and chances of morning rain in Ogun, Edo, Ondo, Delta, and Bayelsa. Later, widespread thunderstorms and rainfall are anticipated across most southern states.
NiMet advised Nigerians to remain vigilant, stressing that “strong winds may precede the rains in areas where thunderstorms are likely to occur.”
The agency urged citizens and airline operators to take precautions: “Disconnect electrical appliances from electrical sockets. Stay away from tall trees to avoid impact from falling branches and broken trees.”
“Airline operators are advised to get airport-specific weather reports (flight documentation) from NiMet for effective planning in their operations.”
