The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) on behalf of the federal government has forecasted widespread thunderstorms and moderate to heavy rainfall across various parts of the country from Sunday to Tuesday.
In a weather outlook released on Saturday in Abuja, NiMet predicted morning thunderstorms on Sunday over parts of Taraba and Adamawa in the North. By afternoon and evening, thunderstorms with rains are expected across Taraba, Adamawa, Katsina, Kano, Zamfara, Kaduna, Jigawa, Borno, Gombe, and Bauchi.
For the North-Central region, cloudy skies are expected in the morning, with thunderstorms and rains anticipated later over the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Niger, Nasarawa, Kwara, Kogi, Benue, and Plateau.
In the southern region, morning conditions will be cloudy, with rain showers likely later in the day over Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Edo, Abia, Imo, Enugu, Anambra, Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Rivers, Delta, and Bayelsa.
On Monday, morning thunderstorms with rain are expected over Sokoto, Zamfara, and Bauchi in the North, expanding to include Taraba, Adamawa, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Borno, Bauchi, and Kaduna by the afternoon.
The North-Central states, including FCT, Niger, Kogi, and Nasarawa, will see morning thunderstorms and rains, followed by similar conditions in Plateau, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Kogi, and Benue in the evening.
In the South, morning rains are likely in Cross River, Rivers, Bayelsa, and Akwa Ibom, with showers expected across most southern states later.
Tuesday’s forecast shows isolated morning thunderstorms with moderate rains over Zamfara and Kaduna in the North. Later, more widespread thunderstorms and rain will affect Taraba, Kaduna, Adamawa, Zamfara, Kano, Bauchi, Gombe, and Borno.
North-Central areas such as Niger, Plateau, and Benue will experience morning rains, with broader coverage across FCT, Nasarawa, Kogi, Benue, Niger, Kwara, and Plateau by evening.
In the South, Lagos and Bayelsa are expected to receive morning rains, followed by rain across the entire southern region.
NiMet has urged the public to take precautions against potential hazards, including strong winds that may precede thunderstorms. The agency advised securing loose objects, avoiding driving in heavy rain, disconnecting electrical appliances, and staying away from tall trees.
Airline operators are encouraged to obtain detailed airport-specific weather reports for effective flight planning.
Residents are advised to remain updated with NiMet weather reports to ensure safety and preparedness.