By Deborah Nnamdi
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has forecast widespread rainy and thundery weather conditions across the country from Monday through Wednesday, warning of possible flash floods in several areas.
For Monday, morning thunderstorms with moderate rainfall are expected in parts of Jigawa, Zamfara, Kano, Kaduna, Bauchi, Yobe, and Katsina States in the northern region, while other areas will remain mostly sunny with patches of clouds. By afternoon and evening, thunderstorms are likely over Jigawa, Zamfara, Kano, Kaduna, Bauchi, Yobe, Katsina, Kebbi, Adamawa, and Taraba States. There is a significant risk of flash flooding in Bauchi, Jigawa, Katsina, Kaduna, and Kano States.
In the central region, cloudy skies are expected in the morning, with light to moderate rain anticipated in parts of Niger, Benue, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Plateau, and Nasarawa States. Later in the day, rainfall is expected to continue in Plateau, Nasarawa, FCT, Kogi, Benue, and Niger. Plateau State, in particular, faces an elevated risk of flash floods.
In the southern region, cloudy morning conditions are expected, followed by light to moderate rainfall later in the day across Ondo, Imo, Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom States.
On Tuesday, sunny skies with patches of clouds will prevail in the northern region in the morning, with thunderstorms and moderate rain anticipated in parts of Adamawa, Taraba, Yobe, Kaduna, Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Katsina, and Kano States. Later in the day, thunderstorms and rain are expected over Adamawa, Taraba, Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, and Kebbi States.
In the central region, light to moderate morning rain is expected over Niger, Benue, FCT, Kogi, Plateau, and Nasarawa States, followed by moderate rainfall later in the day across Plateau, Niger, FCT, Kwara, Kogi, and Nasarawa.
The southern region will start the day with cloudy skies and a chance of rain in Akwa Ibom and Cross River States. By afternoon and evening, moderate rainfall is expected in Abia, Delta, Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Bayelsa States.
By Wednesday, the northern region is expected to experience sunny skies with cloudy patches. Morning thunderstorms with moderate rain are forecast for Kaduna, Kebbi, Taraba, Sokoto, Zamfara, Yobe, Jigawa, Kano, and Katsina States. In the afternoon and evening, Borno, Jigawa, Kaduna, Taraba, Adamawa, Bauchi, Yobe, Gombe, Zamfara, and Kebbi States are likely to experience thunderstorms and rainfall.
The central region will see cloudy skies in the morning, with chances of thunderstorms and rain in Plateau, Niger, FCT, and Nasarawa States. Moderate rainfall is expected later in the day across the FCT, Plateau, Niger, Benue, and Nasarawa.
In the southern region, morning rains are forecast in Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Cross River States, with cloudy conditions elsewhere. In the afternoon and evening, moderate to heavy rainfall is expected across Ebonyi, Abia, Enugu, Imo, Anambra, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom States.
NiMet warns that states at risk of flash flooding should activate emergency response systems. The public is advised to avoid driving during heavy rainfall, ensure vulnerable individuals stay warm due to low nighttime temperatures, and take precautions against strong winds that may accompany thunderstorms. Loose objects should be secured to prevent damage, electrical appliances should be unplugged during storms, and sheltering under tall trees should be avoided.
Airline operators are urged to obtain airport-specific weather information from NiMet offices for proper flight planning. The public is encouraged to stay updated through regular weather reports available at www.nimet.gov.ng.
