Heavy Downpours, Flood Threat Loom as NiMet Issues Three-Day Weather Alert

Nigerians across several parts of the country have been advised to brace for days of unstable weather conditions as the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) forecasts widespread thunderstorms, persistent rainfall and possible flooding from Wednesday through Friday.

The agency's latest outlook indicates that many states in the northern, central and southern regions will experience varying degrees of rainfall, with some areas expected to witness intense thunderstorms and strong winds.

NiMet said the northern part of the country would begin the period under partly cloudy conditions, but weather activity is expected to intensify rapidly. States such as Taraba, Kebbi, Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara, Jigawa, Kano and Kaduna are likely to experience thunderstorms and rainfall at different times during the day.

In the North-Central region, residents of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, Niger and Benue states have been placed on alert for rainfall and thunderstorms. The weather agency noted that while some areas may experience relatively calm conditions in the early hours, heavier rain-bearing storms are expected to develop later in the day and spread across the region.

The southern states are also expected to face significant rainfall activity throughout the forecast period. Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Abia, Imo and Ebonyi are among the states projected to experience sustained rainfall, with cloud cover dominating much of the region.

As the week progresses, the agency expects the rainy conditions to persist, with thunderstorms forecast to affect additional northern states, including Adamawa and Gombe. Similar weather patterns are expected across the North-Central zone, where thunderstorms could become more widespread during afternoon and evening hours.

Of particular concern is the heightened risk of flooding in parts of the South-East and South-South. NiMet identified Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom and Cross River as states most vulnerable to flash floods during the forecast window, urging authorities and residents to remain vigilant.

By Friday, rainfall activity is expected to continue across large sections of the country. Northern states including Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Jigawa, Kano, Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa and Taraba are likely to witness thunderstorms accompanied by moderate rainfall, while many parts of the central region are also expected to record wet weather conditions.

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In the South, widespread rainfall is projected to persist, particularly in Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Ebonyi states, where cloudy skies and wet conditions are expected to dominate.

Beyond rainfall, NiMet warned that thunderstorms could be accompanied by strong gusty winds capable of causing damage to unsecured structures and objects.

The agency therefore advised residents to take precautionary measures, including fastening loose items around homes and workplaces, avoiding unnecessary travel during severe weather, and unplugging electrical appliances during storms to reduce the risk of damage.

Emergency management authorities in flood-prone states were also urged to remain on standby and activate response mechanisms where necessary to mitigate the impact of possible flash floods.

For air travel operations, NiMet advised airline operators to obtain location-specific weather briefings to support safe flight planning and operations.

The agency called on Nigerians to remain attentive to official weather advisories and forecasts as changing atmospheric conditions could lead to sudden weather developments in affected areas.