The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has forecasted widespread thunderstorms and heavy rains across various parts of Nigeria from Friday through Sunday.
This weather outlook, released on Thursday in Abuja, predicts significant weather activity, particularly in the northern and central regions of the country.
Friday Forecast:
Thunderstorms are expected to impact several states in the early hours of Friday, including Borno, Yobe, Kaduna, Taraba, Jigawa, Gombe, and Bauchi. Later in the day, these weather conditions are anticipated to extend to Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina, Bauchi, Adamawa, Jigawa, and Kano States.
In the central region, thunderstorms are predicted over the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Niger, Kwara, Nasarawa, and Plateau States during the morning, with continued activity into the afternoon and evening in the FCT, Niger, Nasarawa, Kogi, and Benue States.
In the southern states, morning rains are expected in Abia, Imo, Oyo, Edo, Delta, and Akwa Ibom, while later rains are forecasted for Enugu, Anambra, Ekiti, Ondo, Oyo, Osun, Edo, Delta, Lagos, Cross River, Rivers, and Bayelsa.
Saturday Forecast:
On Saturday, NiMet expects thunderstorms to persist in Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Katsina, Kano, and Taraba States in the morning, with further storms developing over Sokoto, Adamawa, Kebbi, Taraba, Kaduna, Kano, Gombe, Bauchi, and Katsina States later in the day.
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The central region will again see morning thunderstorms in the FCT, Nasarawa, and Niger, with continued activity later in the day. Rainfall is also predicted for Osun, Edo, Delta, and Lagos States during the morning, with continuous rains affecting Enugu, Imo, Anambra, Ebonyi, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Ondo, and Ekiti States.
Coastal regions including Lagos, Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom States will also experience rain later in the day.
Sunday Forecast:
By Sunday, isolated thunderstorms are expected in Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara States during the morning, expanding to Yobe, Jigawa, Katsina, Kano, Sokoto, Bauchi, and Kaduna States later in the day. The North Central region will experience cloudy skies with intermittent sunshine, with isolated thunderstorms likely in Niger State during the afternoon and evening.
In the South, predominantly cloudy conditions are expected, with the likelihood of rains in parts of Ondo, Edo, Delta, and Bayelsa States in the afternoon and evening.
Public Advisory:
NiMet has issued a caution to residents, especially in major cities, warning of a high risk of flooding due to anticipated heavy downpours. The agency advises the public to take necessary precautions, as strong winds may accompany thunderstorms in affected areas.
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Residents are encouraged to stay informed through regular updates from NiMet and adhere to safety advisories from relevant authorities. Airline operators and the general public are also advised to consult NiMet’s weather reports and forecasts for effective planning and operations.
