The Nigerian Meteorological Agency has forecast cloudy skies, thunderstorms and varying degrees of rainfall across several parts of the country from Wednesday to Friday.
In its three-day weather outlook released in Abuja on Tuesday, the agency said parts of the North would experience cloudy conditions and morning thunderstorms, while heavier rainfall was expected in some areas later in the day.
For Wednesday, NiMet predicted morning thunderstorms and light rain in parts of Taraba and Kebbi states, with isolated thunderstorms and moderate rainfall expected later across Taraba, Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Sokoto, Katsina, Zamfara, Jigawa, Kano and Kaduna.
The agency said the North-Central region would also experience morning thunderstorms and light rain in parts of Nasarawa, Niger, Benue and the Federal Capital Territory, followed by moderate rainfall across most areas later in the day.
In the South, NiMet forecast a generally cloudy atmosphere, with morning rainfall expected in parts of Lagos, Ondo, Ogun, Oyo, Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Cross River, Abia, Imo, Ebonyi and Akwa Ibom states.
It added that moderate rainfall could occur across most parts of the southern region later on Wednesday.
For Thursday, the agency forecast morning thunderstorms and light rain across parts of Jigawa, Kano, Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe and Kaduna, with moderate rainfall expected later in the day over several northern states, including Adamawa and Taraba.
The North-Central region is expected to have sunny conditions with patches of cloud, although morning thunderstorms and light rain are possible in parts of the FCT, Nasarawa, Plateau, Niger and Benue.
NiMet also predicted light morning rain over parts of Ondo, Ogun, Abia, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi, Lagos, Akwa Ibom and Cross River, with widespread rainfall expected later across the southern region.
The agency identified parts of Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states as areas with a high possibility of flooding during the forecast period.
For Friday, NiMet said parts of Taraba and Adamawa could experience morning thunderstorms with moderate rainfall, while thunderstorms and moderate rain are expected across Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, Kano, Jigawa, Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara and other parts of the North later in the day.
The agency also forecast morning thunderstorms and light rain in parts of the FCT, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa and Niger, with moderate rainfall expected across much of the North-Central region later in the day.
In the southern states, NiMet predicted a cloudy atmosphere and moderate morning rainfall in parts of Ondo, Ebonyi, Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River, followed by more widespread rain later in the day.
Warning that strong winds could accompany thunderstorms, the agency advised residents to take precautions before and during the rainfall.
“Driving under heavy rain should be avoided. Disconnect electrical appliances from electrical sockets,” NiMet advised.
It also urged residents to keep away from tall trees because of the risk of falling branches and warned that states identified as vulnerable to flash floods should activate their emergency response mechanisms.
NiMet further advised airline operators to obtain location-specific weather information from the agency to support flight planning and urged the public to monitor its weather updates.
