The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has forecast thunderstorms and moderate rainfall across several parts of Nigeria from Monday to Wednesday, with widespread rainfall expected over the southern region during the period.

The agency, in its weather outlook released in Abuja on Sunday, predicted varying weather conditions across the northern, North Central and southern parts of the country and warned of possible flash floods in coastal areas of the South.

NiMet also advised residents, motorists and airline operators to take necessary precautions as thunderstorms, strong winds and heavy rainfall develop across different parts of the country.

For Monday, the agency forecast sunny skies with patches of clouds over the northern region, with thunderstorms and moderate rains expected in several states at different times of the day.

It said morning thunderstorms were expected over parts of Taraba, Adamawa and Kaduna, while afternoon and evening thunderstorms were likely over Borno, Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Katsina, Kano, Kaduna, Adamawa and Taraba.

In the North Central region, NiMet forecast morning thunderstorms over parts of Plateau, Niger, Nasarawa and the Federal Capital Territory.

The agency said thunderstorms were expected to spread to Kogi, Benue, Plateau, Niger, Nasarawa and the FCT during the afternoon and evening.

It further forecast moderate morning rainfall over parts of Ondo, Ogun, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Lagos and Bayelsa, with rainfall expected to become more widespread across the southern region later in the day.

The agency said the pattern of thunderstorms and rainfall would continue into Tuesday and Wednesday, although the intensity and timing would vary across the regions.

On Tuesday, NiMet forecast morning thunderstorms and moderate rains over parts of Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Adamawa and Taraba.

During the afternoon and evening, the weather activity is expected to extend to parts of Borno, Jigawa, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, Taraba and Adamawa.

For the North Central, morning thunderstorms are expected over parts of Niger, Kwara and the FCT, followed by thunderstorms and moderate rains across other parts of the region later in the day.

The southern region is expected to experience light morning rainfall over parts of Cross River, Delta, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Lagos and Rivers, with thunderstorms and moderate rains becoming more widespread in the afternoon and evening.

On Wednesday, NiMet forecast partly cloudy conditions over the northern region, with possible morning thunderstorms and light rains over parts of Bauchi, Jigawa and Yobe.
It said thunderstorms and moderate rains were expected across several parts of the northern region during the afternoon and evening.

In the North Central, sunny skies with patches of clouds are expected in the morning, followed by thunderstorms and moderate rains later in the day.

For the South, NiMet forecast a cloudy atmosphere with light morning rains over parts of Edo, Cross River, Delta, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Rivers, before thunderstorms and moderate rainfall spread across the region later in the day.

The agency warned that strong winds could precede thunderstorms and urged residents to secure loose objects that could be blown away, potentially causing damage or collisions.

NiMet also cautioned motorists, particularly those travelling through flood-prone and coastal areas, against driving or wading through floodwaters.

It warned that continuous rainfall in coastal areas of the South could trigger flash floods, potentially disrupting transportation and threatening lives and property.

The latest forecast comes amid repeated warnings from NiMet and other relevant agencies over the risk of heavy rainfall, thunderstorms and localized flooding across the country.

Authorities have continued to urge residents, particularly those living in flood-prone communities, to pay attention to early warning alerts and take precautionary measures to reduce the impact of flooding.

Recent flood incidents across the country have also renewed concerns over the vulnerability of low-lying communities, inadequate drainage systems and poor flood preparedness.

The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) recently issued a seven-day flood advisory, identifying 17 states as facing medium flood risk.

The states listed in the advisory are Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara.

In a related development, the National Economic Council (NEC) recently approved N83.2 billion under the Anticipatory Action Task Force (AATF) to strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness for flooding and other climate-related emergencies.

Urban planning and environmental experts also recently warned that low-lying and poorly drained communities remain particularly vulnerable to flooding due to rapid urbanisation, blocked drainage channels and the loss of wetlands.

The experts, speaking in a recent interview with Nairametrics, said the degradation of natural drainage systems had reduced the capacity of many cities to absorb and channel stormwater during periods of intense rainfall.

They noted that heavy rainfall could quickly lead to the accumulation of floodwaters, disrupting transportation, damaging homes and businesses and putting lives at risk.

NiMet therefore urged the public to remain alert to weather updates and take appropriate safety measures during thunderstorms and periods of heavy rainfall.