The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has forecast a combination of dust haze and thunderstorms across different parts of the country between Friday and Sunday.
The agency released its three-day weather outlook in Abuja on Thursday, predicting slight dust haze over most northern states, while moderate haze is expected in parts of Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi and Kaduna States.
For Friday, NiMet forecast isolated thunderstorms accompanied by light rainfall over parts of Taraba State during the afternoon or evening.
In the North-Central region, sunny conditions with occasional cloud cover are expected throughout the day. However, isolated thunderstorms and light rainfall may occur over parts of Kogi, Kwara, the Federal Capital Territory and Benue State later in the afternoon or evening.
The agency also predicted cloudy conditions across the southern region, with possible light rainfall in parts of Delta and Bayelsa States during the morning.
Later in the day, thunderstorms accompanied by moderate rainfall are expected over parts of Ondo, Ogun, Osun and Ekiti States, as well as several areas in the South-East and South-South regions.
For Saturday, NiMet anticipated sunny and hazy weather across the northern region throughout the day.
The North-Central region is expected to experience sunny conditions with patches of clouds during the morning, while isolated thunderstorms accompanied by light rainfall may develop over parts of Kogi, Kwara and Benue States later in the afternoon or evening.
In the southern states, cloudy weather is expected during the morning hours, followed by thunderstorms with moderate rainfall across most areas later in the day.
For Sunday, the agency forecast slight dust haze over most parts of the North, with sunny conditions and occasional cloud cover expected across the North-Central region.
Southern states are expected to experience cloudy weather during the morning, followed by isolated thunderstorms accompanied by light rainfall over parts of Imo, Abia and Anambra States.
NiMet also predicted light rainfall over parts of the South-West and South-South regions later in the day.
The agency advised Nigerians to take precautions against airborne dust particles, particularly individuals living with asthma and other respiratory conditions.
It warned that strong winds could occur before thunderstorms and urged residents to secure loose objects that could be displaced by the wind.
Residents were also advised to stay away from tall trees during storms to avoid injuries from falling branches or damaged trees.
NiMet further recommended disconnecting electrical appliances from power sources during thunderstorms to reduce the risk of damage.
The agency also advised airline operators to obtain airport-specific weather reports and flight documentation from NiMet to support safe and effective flight planning.
Members of the public were encouraged to regularly check weather updates through the agency’s official website.
Source: The Punch
