The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has issued a weather outlook predicting widespread thundery and rainy conditions across Nigeria from Saturday through Monday. The forecast, released on Friday in Abuja, highlights early morning thunderstorms on Saturday affecting northern states including Taraba, Kebbi, Zamfara, Kaduna, and Adamawa.
Later on Saturday, NiMet anticipates thunderstorms accompanied by rains over a broader northern expanse encompassing Kebbi, Taraba, Zamfara, Borno, Kaduna, Sokoto, Gombe, and Bauchi states. The North-Central region will also experience early morning thunderstorms in Benue, Plateau, Niger, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and Nasarawa states. By afternoon, these conditions are expected to intensify with thunderstorms and rains spreading to the FCT, Niger, Nasarawa, Benue, Kwara, Kogi, and Plateau.
In the southern states, a cloudy atmosphere with chances of morning rains will prevail over Enugu, Ebonyi, Cross River, Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Bayelsa. Later in the day, isolated thunderstorms with rains are forecast for Imo, Enugu, Abia, Ebonyi, Anambra, Ondo, Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ekiti, Edo, Delta, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, and Rivers.
Sunday’s outlook includes morning thunderstorms over northern states such as Kaduna, Kebbi, Adamawa, and Taraba, with afternoon rains expected in Taraba, Adamawa, Kebbi, Kaduna, Zamfara, Gombe, and Bauchi. The North-Central region will see early morning thunderstorms in Kogi, Kwara, Plateau, Niger, Nasarawa, Benue, and the FCT, followed by afternoon thunderstorms and rains in the FCT, Niger, Nasarawa, Kwara, Kogi, Benue, and Plateau.
Southern states will experience morning thunderstorms in Delta, Lagos, Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River, with isolated afternoon thunderstorms across a wide range of southern states including Imo, Enugu, Abia, Ebonyi, Anambra, Ondo, Oyo, Ogun, Ekiti, Edo, Lagos, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Bayelsa, and Rivers.
On Monday, morning thunderstorms are expected over Kebbi, Zamfara, Kaduna, Adamawa, and Taraba in the north, with afternoon rains forecast for Taraba, Adamawa, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Zamfara, Gombe, Kaduna, and Bauchi. The North-Central region will see cloudy skies with sunshine intervals and thunderstorms with rains over the FCT, Nasarawa, Benue, Kogi, Niger, Kwara, Plateau, and other states.
In the south, morning rains will occur over Ogun, Edo, Ondo, Delta, and Bayelsa, with isolated thunderstorms expected later in the day across the region.
NiMet cautioned the public to take safety measures as strong winds may precede thunderstorms. “Disconnect electrical appliances from electrical sockets. Stay away from tall trees to avoid impact from falling branches and broken trees,” the agency advised. It also urged motorists to avoid driving in heavy rain and airline operators to obtain airport-specific weather reports for operational planning.
Residents are encouraged to stay updated via NiMet’s official website, www.nimet.gov.ng.
