NiMet forecasts thunderstorms, rainfall across Nigeria from Monday to Wednesday

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has issued a fresh weather outlook, warning of thunderstorms and rainfall across several parts of the country between Monday and Wednesday.

In its forecast released on Sunday, NiMet projected that isolated thunderstorms with moderate rains are expected on Monday morning over states including Kaduna, Gombe, Bauchi, Kebbi, Adamawa, and Taraba.

In the afternoon and evening, isolated thunderstorms with moderate rain are expected across the northern region. Flash floods are likely in Adamawa, Taraba, and Gombe. For the central region, a cloudy atmosphere with intervals of sunshine is expected on Monday morning, accompanied by moderate rainfall over Niger, Kogi, Kwara, the FCT, and Benue.

Thunderstorms with moderate rains are forecast over most parts of the central region later in the day. NiMet predicted cloudy skies over the southern region on Monday morning, with moderate rains expected in Ekiti, Ondo, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River.

Moderate rains are anticipated over most parts of the southern region later in the day.

On Tuesday, the northern region is expected to experience cloudy skies with occasional sunshine. Isolated thunderstorms with moderate rains are expected over Borno, Kaduna, Gombe, Bauchi, Taraba, and Adamawa. Later in the day, thunderstorms with moderate rains are forecast over Kano, Jigawa, Yobe, Katsina, Zamfara, Kebbi, and Taraba.

For the central region, cloudy skies with intervals of sunshine are expected on Tuesday morning, accompanied by moderate rainfall over Kogi, Niger, the FCT, Kwara, and Nasarawa. Thunderstorms with moderate rains are expected later in the day over Niger, Kogi, Kwara, Benue, and the FCT.

Cloudy skies with a chance of moderate rainfall are expected over the southern region on Tuesday morning in Oyo, Ekiti, Ondo, Enugu, Anambra, Ebonyi, and Delta. Later in the day, light to moderate rains are forecast across most parts of the region.

On Wednesday, cloudy skies with intervals of sunshine are expected over the northern region, accompanied by slim chances of thunderstorms and light rain in Sokoto and Zamfara. In the afternoon and evening, isolated thunderstorms with moderate rains are expected over Borno, Adamawa, Taraba, Kaduna, Zamfara, Kebbi, and Sokoto.

For the central region, cloudy skies with intervals of sunshine are expected on Wednesday morning, with light rain likely in Abuja, Kogi, Kwara, and Niger. Later in the day, thunderstorms with moderate rains are expected in Benue, Kwara, Kogi, and Niger. Cloudy skies are expected across the southern region on Wednesday morning, with moderate rains likely later in the day.

NiMet advised motorists to avoid driving during heavy rainfall. Farmers were advised to refrain from applying fertiliser or pesticides immediately before rainfall to prevent nutrient leaching.

The agency also advised residents to fasten loose objects, disconnect electrical appliances, and avoid tall trees to reduce risks during storms. Airlines operators were urged to obtain airport-specific weather reports for effective operational planning.