Thunderstorms to Sweep Across Nigeria for Three Days, Is Your State on NiMet’s Alert List?

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has forecast widespread cloudiness, thunderstorms and rainfall across several parts of the country from Wednesday to Friday, warning Nigerians to prepare for changing weather conditions and take necessary safety precautions.

In its latest weather outlook released in Abuja, the agency said many states in the northern, central and southern regions would experience varying degrees of rainfall and thunderstorms during the three-day period.

According to NiMet, Wednesday will begin with patches of clouds over much of the northern region, while thunderstorms accompanied by moderate rainfall are expected in parts of Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Kano, Zamfara, Gombe, Bauchi, Taraba and Adamawa states. Later in the day, the weather is expected to become more active, with thunderstorms and moderate rains forecast across Kaduna State and the entire North-East region.

For the North-Central zone, the agency predicted cloudy conditions with chances of thunderstorms and light rainfall over parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Plateau and Nasarawa states during the morning hours. By afternoon and evening, moderate rainfall and thunderstorms are expected to spread to Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Nasarawa, Plateau and the FCT.

The southern region is also expected to experience cloudy skies throughout the day. While light rainfall is anticipated in parts of the South-South during the morning, NiMet forecast moderate rains later in the day over Ondo, Ekiti and Oyo states, as well as across parts of the South-East and South-South regions.

The agency said the wet weather pattern will persist on Thursday, with thunderstorms and moderate rainfall expected in parts of Zamfara, Kebbi, Katsina, Kano, Kaduna, Taraba, Adamawa, Bauchi and Gombe states during the morning hours. As the day progresses, thunderstorms and rainfall are expected to affect most parts of the northern region.

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NiMet further projected cloudy conditions across the North-Central states, with moderate rainfall and thunderstorms likely throughout the forecast period. In the southern region, moderate rainfall is expected over Ondo State and across the South-South, while rainfall activities are expected to extend to the South-East later in the day.

Looking ahead to Friday, the agency forecast patches of clouds over the northern region, with prospects of thunderstorms and rainfall in parts of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Taraba states during the morning. By afternoon and evening, thunderstorms accompanied by moderate rainfall are expected to become widespread across the northern states.

The North-Central region is expected to experience cloudy weather with light rainfall over parts of Nasarawa and Benue states in the morning, followed by moderate rainfall and thunderstorms later in the day. Similarly, the southern region will likely remain cloudy, with light rainfall forecast across the South-South states during the morning hours. Moderate rains are also expected later in the day in parts of Ondo, Oyo, Enugu and Imo states, as well as across wider areas of the South-East and South-South.

As rainfall activities intensify across the country, NiMet cautioned that strong winds may precede thunderstorms in some locations. The agency advised residents to secure loose objects to prevent damage from windstorms and to exercise caution during periods of heavy rainfall.

Motorists were urged to avoid driving under intense rainfall due to poor visibility and the risk of accidents, while households were advised to disconnect electrical appliances from power sources during thunderstorms. The agency also warned members of the public to stay away from tall trees to reduce the risk of injury from falling branches or uprooted trees.

NiMet further advised airline operators to obtain airport-specific weather reports from the agency to ensure safe and effective flight operations. The agency urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and keep track of official weather updates as the forecast conditions develop across the country over the coming days.