As Nigerians gear up for the weekend, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) offers a detailed weather outlook, with the coastal city of Lagos expected to face the potential impact of thunderstorms. From Friday to Sunday, atmospheric conditions across the nation are expected to be dynamic.
Friday
The forecast for Friday indicates dust haze over the northern region, with a visibility range of 2 km to 5 km. In the morning, there are slim prospects of localised thunderstorms over parts of Taraba State. Later in the day, dust haze is expected to persist with a visibility range of 2km to 5km over the region. Additionally, there are prospects of thunderstorms over parts of Taraba, Adamawa, and Kaduna states.
In the North Central region, cloudy skies with intervals of sunshine are expected during the morning hours, possibly leading to localized thunderstorms over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue, and Kogi states. Moving into the afternoon and evening hours, thunderstorms are forecasted over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Plateau, Niger, Kogi, Nasarawa, and Benue states.
In the southern region, thunderstorms are expected over parts of Ondo, Ogun, Enugu, Ebonyi, Abia, Cross River, Bayelsa, Delta, Akwa Ibom, and Lagos states during the morning hours. Later in the day, NiMet predicts thunderstorms with rains over parts of Edo, Osun, Ogun, Ondo, Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo, Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, Cross River, and Lagos states.
Saturday
NiMet predicts dust haze in the northern region on Saturday, with a visibility range of 2Km to 5Km in the morning. Later in the day, dust haze is expected to persist, with prospects of thunderstorms over parts of Taraba and Adamawa states. In the North Central region, a cloudy atmosphere with intervals of sunshine is anticipated in the morning, with chances of thunderstorms over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, Niger, and Benue states later in the day.
In the southern region, cloudy conditions are forecasted over the inland areas and coastal states, with prospects of thunderstorms over parts of Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Abia, Edo, Ondo, Ogun, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa, and Lagos states in the morning. Thunderstorms are expected to prevail over parts of Edo, Ebonyi, Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Abia, Ondo, Osun, Ekiti, Ogun, Oyo, Lagos, Bayelsa, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers states later in the day.
Sunday
On Sunday, NiMet envisages dust haze with a visibility range of 2 km to 5 km over the northern region in the morning, extending later in the day. The North Central region is expected to have cloudy skies with intervals of sunshine in the morning, leading to chances of thunderstorms over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, and Benue states. In the afternoon and evening, thunderstorms are forecast over parts of Kogi, Benue, and Nasarawa states.
In the southern region, cloudy skies with sunshine intervals are anticipated, with prospects of thunderstorms over parts of Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, Rivers, Bayelsa, and Cross River states in the morning. Thunderstorms are predicted over parts of Ondo, Ogun, Abia, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Lagos states later in the day.
NiMet issues a cautionary note, emphasising the potential for moderate to heavy rainfall leading to flash floods. The public is advised to exercise necessary caution, avoiding driving and walking through floodwaters. Strong winds are likely to precede and accompany the thunderstorms, and citizens are urged to take necessary safety precautions.
Disaster risk managers, agencies, and individuals are advised to be proactive to avert the loss of lives and property during the rainy season. All airline operators are encouraged to stay informed by periodically checking weather reports and alerts from NiMet for effective planning of their operations.
