NiMet Warns of Heavy Rains, Thunderstorms, and Flood Risks Across Nigeria

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has issued a three-day weather forecast warning of heavy rains, thunderstorms, and potential flooding across several parts of the country from Monday to Wednesday.

The forecast, released on Sunday in Abuja and reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), covers the northern, central, and southern regions, with residents and authorities urged to take precautionary measures.

Northern Region
On Monday morning, thunderstorms are expected in parts of Sokoto, Kebbi, Adamawa, and Taraba States, followed by moderate rains later in the day across Bauchi, Borno, Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Taraba, and Adamawa States.
NiMet warned of high flood risks in Katsina, Kebbi, Zamfara, and Sokoto States during the forecast period.

Central Region
Parts of Niger State will see light rains in the morning, while thunderstorms and light rains are likely in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue, and Kogi States in the afternoon and evening. Plateau, Nasarawa, and Niger States are particularly vulnerable to flooding, NiMet said.

Southern Region
Cloudy skies with intermittent light rains are forecast on Monday morning for parts of Ebonyi, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom States. Moderate rains are expected later in the day across Enugu, Edo, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Osun, Abia, Cross River, Rivers, Delta, and Akwa Ibom States.
Flood risk remains high in Delta, Imo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom States.

Extended Outlook
The forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday indicates continued thunderstorms and moderate rains in many northern states, light to moderate rains in central states, and widespread rainfall across southern states. NiMet cautioned that continuous rainfall in some areas could trigger flash floods.

Safety Advisories
NiMet urged residents in flood-prone areas to activate emergency response systems immediately and warned motorists against driving in heavy rain. Farmers were advised to avoid applying fertilisers and pesticides just before rainfall to prevent nutrient loss.

Other safety tips include:

• Securing loose outdoor items
• Avoiding shelter under tall trees during thunderstorms
• Wearing warm clothing in areas with low night-time temperatures
• Disconnecting electrical appliances during storms

The agency also advised airline operators to obtain airport-specific weather reports for effective flight planning. Nigerians are encouraged to stay updated by visiting NiMet’s official website.