The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has forecast widespread rainfall and thunderstorms across the country from Monday to Wednesday, warning of possible flash floods in several areas.
In its three-day weather outlook released Sunday in Abuja, NiMet predicted thunderstorms with moderate rainfall on Monday morning over parts of Jigawa, Zamfara, Kano, Kaduna, Bauchi, Yobe, and Katsina States in the northern region. Other areas are expected to experience sunny intervals with patches of clouds.
Later in the day, thunderstorms with moderate rainfall are expected in Jigawa, Zamfara, Kano, Kaduna, Bauchi, Yobe, Katsina, Kebbi, Adamawa, and Taraba States. The agency specifically warned of a high risk of flash floods in Bauchi, Jigawa, Katsina, Kaduna, and Kano States.
In the central region, cloudy skies are expected in the morning, with light to moderate rains forecast in parts of Niger, Benue, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Plateau, and Nasarawa States. Rainfall is likely to continue into the afternoon and evening in Plateau, Nasarawa, FCT, Kogi, Benue, and Niger States. Plateau is also flagged for potential flash flooding.
For the southern region, cloudy skies are forecast in the morning, followed by light to moderate rain in parts of Ondo, Imo, Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom States later in the day.
On Tuesday, the northern region will generally experience sunny skies with patches of clouds in the morning, with thunderstorms expected over Adamawa, Taraba, Yobe, Kaduna, Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Katsina, and Kano States. By afternoon and evening, rain is expected in Adamawa, Taraba, Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, and Kebbi States.
In the central region, light to moderate morning rain is forecast in Niger, Benue, FCT, Kogi, Plateau, and Nasarawa, with continued rainfall later in Plateau, Niger, FCT, Kwara, Kogi, and Nasarawa.
The southern region is expected to remain cloudy in the morning, with isolated rain in Akwa Ibom and Cross River. Moderate rainfall will return later across Abia, Delta, Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Bayelsa States.
By Wednesday, the northern region is expected to see sunny skies with patches of cloud in the morning, followed by thunderstorms and moderate rainfall in Kaduna, Kebbi, Taraba, Sokoto, Zamfara, Yobe, Jigawa, Kano, and Katsina States. Afternoon and evening rains are forecast for Borno, Jigawa, Kaduna, Taraba, Adamawa, Bauchi, Yobe, Gombe, Zamfara, and Kebbi States.
In the central region, cloudy skies will persist, with morning thunderstorms expected in Plateau, Niger, FCT, and Nasarawa. Moderate rains will follow later in the FCT, Plateau, Niger, Benue, and Nasarawa.
Southern states such as Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Cross River will experience morning showers, with moderate to heavy rainfall later in Ebonyi, Abia, Enugu, Imo, Anambra, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom.
NiMet urged residents in flood-prone areas to activate emergency response mechanisms. The public was also advised to avoid driving during heavy rainfall, secure loose objects, dress warmly at night, and stay away from tall trees during thunderstorms.
The agency emphasized that electrical appliances should be unplugged during storms and encouraged airline operators to obtain airport-specific weather reports for better flight planning.
Weather updates are available on the agency’s official website: www.nimet.gov.ng.
