NiMet forecasts 3-day thunderstorms, sunshine across Nigeria

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has forecast a mix of thunderstorms and sunny intervals across the country from Friday through Sunday.

In its weather outlook issued Thursday in Abuja, NiMet stated that thunderstorms are likely to affect parts of the northern states on Friday.

The agency projected “light to moderate rains during the morning hours over parts of Taraba, Borno, Yobe, Jigawa and Bauchi States, while the remaining parts of the region would be sunny with patches of cloud.”

“Thunderstorms with moderate rains are expected during the afternoon or evening hours,” it added.

For the North Central region, NiMet said, “sunny skies with patches of cloud are expected over this region during the morning hours,” followed by “thunderstorms with moderate rains… over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, Kogi, Kwara, Benue, Niger and Plateau states during the afternoon and evening.”

Over the South, cloudy conditions are expected in the morning with light rain likely in parts of Rivers, Cross River and Akwa Ibom, and “moderate rains over most parts of the region later in the day.”

Looking ahead to Saturday, NiMet anticipated largely sunny skies in the northern parts of the country in the morning, alongside “isolated thunderstorms with light rains over parts of Adamawa, Taraba, Jigawa, Bauchi, Borno, Katsina, Zamfara, Yobe and Kaduna States.”

“Thunderstorms with moderate rain are expected during the afternoon or evening hours over parts of Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Kano, Borno, Bauchi, Adamawa, Taraba, Zamfara and Kaduna States,” the report stated.

In the central region, early morning thunderstorms and light rains are expected in parts of Niger and Plateau states. Later in the day, the agency said, “afternoon or evening thunderstorms with moderate to heavy rains are anticipated over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, Kogi, Kwara, Benue, and Plateau states.”

The southern part of the country is forecast to see “cloudy skies… with chances of morning rain over parts of Abia, Ebonyi, Ogun, Ondo, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Rivers and Bayelsa states.” Moderate to heavy rainfall is expected in the region by afternoon or evening.

On Sunday, thunderstorms are again forecast for the northern states. Morning rainfall is likely in Taraba, Borno, Jigawa, Yobe, Kano, Katsina and Kaduna, while “the remaining parts of the region would be sunny with patches of cloud.”

NiMet also predicted “thunderstorms with moderate rains… during the afternoon or evening hours over parts of Kebbi, Zamfara, Adamawa, Taraba, Kaduna, Borno and Yobe States.”

According to it, cloudy skies are anticipated over the central region during the morning hours with chances of thunderstorms with moderate rains over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Benue, Nasarawa, Kwara, Niger and Plateau States.

It envisaged light to moderate rains  over parts of Benue, the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa and Plateau states later in the day.

NiMet anticipated morning rains over parts of Ondo, Edo, Ogun, Cross River, Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom during the morning hours in the southern region with the rest of the day being cloudy.

It added that moderate to heavy rains would be expected over the southern region during the afternoon or evening periods.

It urged the public to take extra care as strong winds might precede the rains in areas where thunderstorms would likely occur.

“Ensure that loose objects are fastened to avoid collision.

‘’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,’’ it said.

It advised the airline operators to get airport-specific weather reports (flight documentation) from NiMet for effective planning in their operations.