The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has issued a weather advisory warning of possible flash floods in parts of the country, as thunderstorms and moderate rains are expected between Monday and Wednesday.
In its weather outlook released on Sunday in Abuja, the agency said flash floods were likely in Adamawa, Taraba, and Gombe states as heavy rainfall is expected to affect several regions.
According to NiMet, “isolated thunderstorms with moderate rains are predicted on Monday morning over Kaduna, Gombe, Bauchi, Kebbi, Adamawa, and Taraba states. In the afternoon and evening, isolated thunderstorms with moderate rains are expected across the northern region.”
For the central region, the agency forecast a cloudy atmosphere with intervals of sunshine on Monday morning, with moderate rainfall likely over Niger, Kogi, Kwara, the FCT, and Benue. It added that thunderstorms with moderate rains would affect most parts of the central region later in the day.
The report also indicated that cloudy skies are expected over the southern region on Monday morning with moderate rains forecast in Ekiti, Ondo, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River states, before spreading across most parts of the region later in the day.
On Tuesday, NiMet projected cloudy skies with sunshine intervals in the northern region. “Isolated thunderstorms with moderate rains are expected over Borno, Kaduna, Gombe, Bauchi, Taraba, and Adamawa,” the agency noted, adding that later in the day, thunderstorms with moderate rains are forecast over Kano, Jigawa, Yobe, Katsina, Zamfara, Kebbi, and Taraba states.
In the central region, cloudy skies with sunshine intervals are expected on Tuesday morning, with moderate rains over Kogi, Niger, the FCT, Kwara, and Nasarawa. Later in the day, thunderstorms with moderate rains are forecast over Niger, Kogi, Kwara, Benue, and the FCT.
For the southern region, NiMet predicted cloudy skies with chances of moderate rains on Tuesday morning in Oyo, Ekiti, Ondo, Enugu, Anambra, Ebonyi, and Delta states, while light to moderate rains are expected across most parts of the region later in the day.
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Looking at Wednesday, the agency projected cloudy skies with intervals of sunshine in the northern region, with slim chances of thunderstorms and light rain in Sokoto and Zamfara during the morning hours. It said: “In the afternoon and evening, isolated thunderstorms with moderate rains are expected over Borno, Adamawa, Taraba, Kaduna, Zamfara, Kebbi, and Sokoto states.”
In the central region, cloudy skies with sunshine intervals are expected on Wednesday morning, with light rains likely in the FCT, Kogi, Kwara, and Niger states. Thunderstorms with moderate rains are later forecast over Benue, Kwara, Kogi, and Niger.
The agency added that cloudy skies will dominate the southern region on Wednesday morning, with moderate rains expected later in the day.
NiMet advised motorists to avoid driving during heavy rainfall and warned farmers against applying fertilisers or pesticides immediately before rainfall to prevent nutrient leaching.
It further cautioned residents to fasten loose objects, disconnect electrical appliances, and avoid tall trees to reduce risks during storms.
“Airline operators are urged to obtain airport-specific weather reports for effective operational planning,” NiMet stated, while also encouraging residents to follow weather updates via its website, www.nimet.gov.ng.
