By Sandra Kenneth
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has issued a nationwide weather outlook warning of widespread cloudiness, moderate rainfall, and severe thunderstorms across Nigeria from Wednesday through Friday.
The agency has urged the public and aviation operators to take immediate precautionary measures against potential hazards, including strong winds, flash floods, and lightning risks.
Daily Breakdown: Wednesday to Friday
Wednesday:
North: Morning clouds with early prospects of thunderstorms and moderate rainfall in Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Kano, Zamfara, Gombe, Bauchi, Taraba, and Adamawa. Thunderstorms and moderate rains will spread to Kaduna and the wider North-East region later in the day.
North-Central: Morning light rains and thunderstorms expected over the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Plateau, and Nasarawa. Afternoon and evening hours bring moderate rainfall and thunderstorms across Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Nasarawa, Plateau, and the FCT.
South: Morning light rains in parts of the South-South region, followed by afternoon and evening moderate rainfall spanning Ondo, Ekiti, Oyo, the South-East, and the South-South.
Thursday:
North: Morning thunderstorms with moderate rain over Zamfara, Kebbi, Katsina, Kano, Kaduna, Taraba, Adamawa, Bauchi, and Gombe, extending to most parts of the northern belt by the afternoon and evening.
North-Central: Persistent cloudy conditions with widespread thunderstorms and moderate rains anticipated throughout the day.
South: Moderate rainfall covers parts of Ondo and the entire South-South region during the morning, spreading to the South-East later in the day.
Friday:
North: Morning patches of clouds with localized thunderstorms over Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, and Taraba, escalating to region-wide thunderstorms and rainfall by afternoon.
North-Central: Light morning rains and thunderstorms over Nasarawa and Benue, followed by moderate rains across the region later in the day.
South: Early morning light rains across the South-South, progressing to moderate showers over Ondo, Oyo, Enugu, Imo, the South-East, and the South-South by late afternoon.
NiMet alerted residents that violent windstorms are expected to precede rainfall in areas prone to severe weather.
Key Recommendations from NiMet:
Public Safety: Secure loose items around property to prevent wind hazards. Avoid driving during heavy downpours, stay away from tall trees or unsecured structures, and unplug electrical devices to guard against power surges and lightning strikes.
Aviation Sector: Airline operators are strongly advised to obtain flight- and airport-specific weather forecasts from the agency to ensure safe operational planning.
Residents are encouraged to monitor ongoing weather developments via official updates on NiMet’s website.
