By Becky Usman
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has issued a weather forecast highlighting areas in Nigeria that are likely to experience extreme heavy rainfall and other weather-related hazards in the next three days.
Starting from Friday, NiMet predicts that “extreme heavy rainfall” will affect parts of Taraba and Adamawa states. Additionally, “heavy and moderate rainfall” is expected in various areas, including Borno, Gombe, Yobe, Plateau, Kaduna, Jigawa, Kano, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Abia, Imo, Rivers, Bayelsa, Anambra, Delta, and Enugu states.
The forecast indicates that during this period, there may be a 24-hour accumulation of rainfall, which could result in flash flooding, riverine flooding, soil erosion, thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds. These extreme weather conditions have the potential to cause large-scale displacement of people, waterborne disease outbreaks, damage to infrastructure such as roads and bridges, loss of lives, injuries, reduced visibility, and interruptions to vehicular traffic.
To mitigate these hazards, NiMet calls for the activation of contingency plans by civil protection service and Disaster Risk Management (DRM) authorities. These plans should include disaster preparedness and emergency response measures such as awareness campaigns, assistance to victims, and search and rescue operations. Authorities are also advised to maintain close communication with the National Hydrological Meteorological Services (NHMS) for more accurate national-level information.
NiMet’s multi-hazard high impact forecast also indicates that some regions, including Bauchi, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Edo, Kogi, Benue, and Kano state, may experience low to moderate rainfall with little or no risk of weather-related hazards.
Furthermore, NiMet forecasts the possibility of high temperatures (38 – 41°C) in parts of Borno and Yobe State on Friday. However, for most of the country, there is little or no risk of temperature-related hazards due to the expected low to moderate temperatures.
On Saturday and Sunday, NiMet anticipates heavy to moderate rainfall in various states, along with the possibility of moderately high temperatures in certain areas. Additionally, strong winds are expected in several northern and central states, posing risks such as damage to structures, fallen trees, road blockages, and displacement of people. Authorities are advised to update contingency plans and enhance disaster management measures during strong wind conditions.
In summary, NiMet’s weather advisory underscores the need for preparedness and proactive measures in the face of varying weather conditions and potential hazards across different regions of Nigeria over the coming days.