NiMet Forecasts Heavy Rainfall Across 14 States This Week

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has issued a forecast predicting heavy rainfall in 14 states this week. The states set to experience significant downpours include Niger, Plateau, Benue, Kaduna, Taraba, Delta, Imo, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa, Ekiti, and Osun.

According to NiMet, the anticipated heavy rainfall is attributed to the strong presence of the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) over the West African region. The agency explained that the MJO will lead to an increased influx of moisture and enhanced velocity divergence, creating favorable conditions for heavy rainfall.

This weather prediction spans from June 18th to June 24th, 2024, as outlined in NiMet’s weekly weather forecast bulletin released on Tuesday.

In addition to the 14 states expected to experience heavy rainfall, NiMet also predicts moderate to heavy rainfall in Zamfara, Kano, Borno, Gombe, Adamawa, the Federal Capital Territory, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Lagos, Edo, Enugu, Ebonyi, and Anambra. Meanwhile, parts of Sokoto, Katsina, Jigawa, and Yobe are likely to see lower rainfall levels, with the remainder of the country experiencing low to moderate rainfall.

NiMet has cautioned that heavy rainfall in certain areas may lead to flash floods, particularly affecting roads, bridges, and low-lying regions. The public is advised to exercise caution and avoid walking through fast-flowing water to ensure safety.

The agency has also provided temperature forecasts, with maximum temperatures expected to range from 35-40°C in parts of Sokoto, Katsina, Jigawa, Yobe, Kebbi, Zamfara, Kano, Bauchi, Gombe, and Borno. Other regions, including Kaduna, Plateau, Taraba, Lagos, Delta, Bayelsa, and Rivers, are forecasted to see temperatures between 30-35°C. The rest of the country should expect temperatures from 25-30°C.

Minimum temperature ranges will vary, with Plateau expected to see 15-20°C. In contrast, Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, Yobe, Gombe, and Borno are anticipated to experience temperatures between 25-30°C, while the rest of the country will have temperatures from 20-25°C.

NiMet emphasizes the importance of taking necessary precautions during this period of significant weather activity to minimize disruptions and ensure public safety.