The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has issued a three-day weather forecast predicting a mix of cloudy skies, thunderstorms, and moderate rainfall across various regions of the country from Wednesday through Friday.
In its national weather outlook released in Abuja, the agency outlined a nationwide pattern of precipitation expected to impact the southern, central and northern parts of the country.
For Wednesday, NiMet forecast early morning patches of cloudy skies in the southern region with morning light rains in the South-South, followed by moderate afternoon rainfall in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Rivers, Ondo, Ekiti, Oyo, and parts of the South-East.
In the North, early morning patches of clouds over the region has been predicted, paving the way for thunderstorms and moderate rainfall in states such as Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Kano, Zamfara, Gombe, Bauchi, Taraba, and Adamawa, with Kaduna and the wider North-East expecting similar conditions later in the day.
The North-Central region is projected to experience morning light rains over the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Plateau, and Nasarawa, transitioning to afternoon and evening thunderstorms across Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, and surrounding areas.
The wet conditions are expected to persist into Thursday, beginning with morning thunderstorms and moderate rainfall over Zamfara, Kebbi, Katsina, Kano, Kaduna, Taraba, Adamawa, Bauchi, and Gombe states, which will intensify across most of the northern region by afternoon and evening.
The North-Central region will experience a generally cloudy atmosphere accompanied by moderate rains throughout the forecast period.
In the south, moderate rains are anticipated over Akwa Ibom and the South-South during the morning, spreading to the South-East later in the day.
Wrapping up the outlook on Friday, NiMet projects cloudy skies with morning light rains over the South, progressing to moderate afternoon and evening rainfall across Akwa Ibom, Ondo, Oyo, Enugu, Imo, and other parts of the South-South and South-East.
Over to the North, NiMet predicts thunderstorms over Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, and Taraba, with broader thunderstorms expected across the north later on Friday.
The North-Central will see morning light rains in Nasarawa and Benue before afternoon thunderstorms develop regionally.
In light of these predictions, NiMet has issued safety advisories warning that strong winds may precede the rainfall in thunderstorm-prone areas.
The agency urged residents to secure loose objects, avoid driving through heavy downpours, disconnect electrical appliances during storms, and stay clear of tall trees.
Additionally, airline operators have been advised to obtain updated, airport-specific weather reports from NiMet for safe operational planning.
