NIMET Raises Alarm On Dust Outbreak

THE Nigerian Meteorological agency (NIMET) has raised alarm on the increasing dust outbreak throughout the country in the month of April.

The agency, which had raised alarm on the dust forecast in January, said the dust haze would affect parts of the country up to April when the North-easterly winds would still be dominant over the northern region.

Warning that the dust episode is expected to further reduce visibility in the northeastern states, it added, however, that the development would not affect flight operations adversely because the atmosphere (especially the south and central states) is already having enough moisture to cause the raised particles to fall off the atmosphere early, leading to improved visibility.

The agency observed that the High Pressure system over the Sahara desert began to strengthen from 1034hpa to 1038hpa, as the mid-latitude trough passed over the area. Two days later, the value reached a very significant threshold of 1038hpa resulting in very strong winds of 40 – 45Knots (72 – 80Km/hr) over the region.