NiMet Projects 3-Day Thunderstorms, Rains From Monday

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has projected thunderstorm and rainfall activities nationwide from Monday to Wednesday.

In its weather outlook issued on Sunday in Abuja, NiMet predicted early morning thunderstorms, with or without rain, in parts of Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Taraba, Adamawa, and Kaduna States in the northern region.

It added that the rest of the northern region would experience partly cloudy skies.

For the afternoon and evening hours, NiMet expects thunderstorms accompanied by rain across areas including Adamawa, Taraba, Borno, Jigawa, Yobe, Kano, Katsina, Gombe, Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, and Kaduna States.

In the central region, NiMet forecasted morning thunderstorms with rain over parts of Niger, Plateau, and the Federal Capital Territory, while other areas are expected to be sunny with patches of cloud.

During the afternoon and evening, isolated thunderstorms—possibly accompanied by rain—are anticipated over Plateau, the FCT, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, and Niger States.

For the southern region, NiMet predicted cloudy skies in the morning with chances of light rain in parts of Ogun, Lagos, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom States.

Thunderstorms with light rain are also expected later in the day across various southern states, including Ogun, Lagos, Ondo, Oyo, Imo, Ebonyi, Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Edo, Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom.

For Tuesday, NiMet forecast mostly sunny skies with patches of clouds across the northern region. However, there are chances of scattered morning thunderstorms with heavy rainfall in parts of Adamawa, Taraba, Borno, Yobe, Sokoto, Jigawa, Bauchi, and Kaduna States.

Later in the afternoon and evening, thunderstorms accompanied by light rain are expected over parts of Taraba, Adamawa, Gombe, Borno, Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, and Bauchi States.

In the central region, morning thunderstorms with light rain are likely over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Niger, Kogi, and Benue States. Thunderstorms with light rainfall are also anticipated later in the day in areas including Nasarawa, the FCT, Benue, Kogi, and Plateau States.

For Wednesday in the central region, NiMet predicted cloudy skies in the morning with chances of thunderstorms over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Niger, Kogi, and Benue States.

Later in the afternoon and evening, isolated thunderstorms are expected over parts of the FCT, Plateau, Nasarawa, Niger, and Kwara States.

In the southern region, cloudy conditions are forecast for the morning, with prospects of light rain over parts of Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers States.

Thunderstorms with light to moderate rain are expected later in the day across much of the southern region, including Edo, Delta, Ondo, Ogun, Oyo, Ekiti, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Abia, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River States.

NiMet stated that for the central region, cloudy skies are expected during the morning hours, followed by thunderstorms with moderate rains across the area in the afternoon and evening.

In the southern region, light rains are likely throughout the day.

The agency also warned that strong winds may precede thunderstorms in affected areas. It advised the public to take necessary precautions, including securing loose objects to prevent them from becoming hazards.

Residents were further cautioned to avoid driving during heavy rainfall and to unplug electrical appliances to reduce the risk of power surges or electrical hazards.

Additionally, people are urged to stay away from tall trees during storms due to the danger of falling branches. Airline operators were reminded to obtain detailed, airport-specific weather reports from NiMet for safe and efficient flight planning.