The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has forecast thunderstorms and rainfall across the country from Monday to Wednesday.
In a weather outlook released on Sunday in Abuja, NiMet predicted early morning thunderstorms on Monday in parts of Taraba, Kaduna, Gombe, Bauchi, Kebbi, Sokoto, Katsina, Jigawa, and Kano States.
It added that, “There are prospects of thunderstorms with rain over parts of Taraba, Kaduna, Sokoto, Borno, Kebbi, and Zamfara States later in the day.”
For the North-Central region, NiMet said, “Morning thunderstorms with rains are anticipated over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Niger and Nasarawa States,”
with further rainfall expected in Plateau, FCT, Nasarawa, Kwara, Niger, Kogi, and Benue during the afternoon and evening.
In the South, cloudy weather is expected in the morning with rain likely in Ondo, Ogun, Edo, Ebonyi, Abia, Cross River, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom States. Later in the day, the agency projected rainfall in Oyo, Ekiti, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Lagos, Edo, Abia, Imo, Ebonyi, Enugu, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Rivers, Delta, and Bayelsa States.
For Tuesday’s forecast, NiMet expected morning thunderstorms with rain in Kano, Zamfara, Katsina, Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, Borno, Yobe, and Taraba. The agency further noted, “In the afternoon or evening hours, thunderstorms with rains are anticipated over parts of Taraba, Kebbi, Borno, Gombe, Adamawa, Kaduna, Bauchi, and Katsina States.”
In the North-Central region, “Thunderstorms with rains are over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Niger, Nasarawa States during the morning period,” with later rainfall expected in the FCT, Nasarawa, Kogi, Niger, Kwara, and Plateau.
The South will also see continued precipitation, with morning storms in Ondo, Ogun, Edo, Ebonyi, Abia, Cross River, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom, and later rainfall in Oyo, Ekiti, Osun, Ogun, Lagos, Edo, Anambra, Abia, Enugu, Imo, Ebonyi, Cross River, Rivers, Delta, and Bayelsa.
For Wednesday, NiMet said thunderstorms are likely in the morning across Zamfara, Adamawa, Kaduna, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Taraba, with rain expected in Taraba, Kaduna, Katsina, Bauchi, Zamfara, Sokoto, and Adamawa in the afternoon or evening.
The North-Central states of FCT, Nasarawa, Niger, and Benue are expected to see morning storms, followed by rainfall in Nasarawa, Plateau, FCT, Kwara, Kogi, and Niger.
For the South, NiMet stated, “Morning rains are anticipated over parts of Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Edo, Enugu, Ebonyi, Cross River, Rivers and Akwa Ibom,” with widespread rainfall forecasted later in the day across the entire region.
NiMet warned that, “Strong winds may precede the rains in areas where thunderstorms are likely to occur, public should take adequate precaution.”
It advised, “Ensure that loose objects are fastened to avoid collision and driving under heavy rain should be avoided. Disconnect electrical appliances from electrical sockets. Stay away from tall trees to avoid impact from falling branches and broken trees.”
Airline operators were urged to obtain location-specific weather reports for effective flight planning. The public was also encouraged to stay informed through official NiMet channels and weather updates available on www.nimet.gov.ng.