The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has forecast widespread thunderstorms and rainy weather from Monday to Wednesday across various parts of the country, with a strong advisory to residents and airline operators to take necessary precautions.
In its three-day weather outlook released on Sunday in Abuja, NiMet said early morning thunderstorms — with or without rain — are expected over parts of Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Taraba, Adamawa, and Kaduna States in the North, while the rest of the region will remain sunny with patches of cloud.
For later in the day, thunderstorms with rain are forecast for Adamawa, Taraba, Borno, Jigawa, Yobe, Kano, Katsina, Gombe, Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, and Kaduna States.
In the central region, morning thunderstorms are anticipated over Niger, Plateau, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with sunny conditions and cloud patches elsewhere. Isolated thunderstorms may occur in Plateau, FCT, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, and Niger States during the afternoon or evening hours.
Over the South, cloudy skies are expected with morning light rains in parts of Ogun, Lagos, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom States, followed by afternoon or evening thunderstorms with light rains in Ogun, Lagos, Ondo, Oyo, Imo, Ebonyi, Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Edo, Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom States.
For Tuesday, sunny skies with patches of clouds are forecast across much of the North, with scattered morning thunderstorms and heavy rains expected in Adamawa, Taraba, Borno, Yobe, Sokoto, Jigawa, Bauchi, and Kaduna States. More thunderstorms with light rains may follow in the afternoon or evening in Taraba, Adamawa, Gombe, Borno, Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, and Bauchi States.
In the central region, morning thunderstorms are likely over FCT, Niger, Kogi, and Benue States, with further storms later in Nasarawa, FCT, Benue, Kogi, and Plateau States. Southern areas are expected to remain mostly cloudy with morning rains in Akwa Ibom and Cross River, and scattered thunderstorms later in the day.
On Wednesday, morning thunderstorms are predicted in parts of Zamfara, Kebbi, Borno, Yobe, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Gombe, Bauchi, and Sokoto States, with heavier rains in the afternoon to evening across Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, Jigawa, Taraba, and Adamawa.
The central region will have cloudy skies in the morning, with thunderstorms and moderate rains later. The entire southern region should expect light rains throughout the day.
NiMet cautioned that strong winds could precede thunderstorms and urged the public to secure loose objects, avoid driving in heavy rain, unplug electrical appliances, and stay clear of tall trees.
Airline operators are specifically advised to obtain airport-specific weather reports for safe flight operations. Residents are encouraged to stay informed through NiMet’s official channels and visit www.nimet.gov.ng for updates.
ADEOLA KUNLE
