NiMet Weather Alert: Dust, Rains, Flood Warnings Hit Nigeria

By: Abudu Olalekan

Here’s the deal. Nigeria’s weather’s about to get seriously messy, and I mean seriously messy. Our weather folks at NiMet, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, just dropped the forecast, and it’s a real mixed bag. Dust haze. Rain. Possible, even likely, floods. And get this: it’s all happening back-to-back, from Monday right through to Wednesday. So, you gotta listen up. Pay close attention to your region, ’cause this ain’t no drill.

Monday’s Play:

Let’s start up North. You know, Borno, Zamfara, northern Kaduna, Yobe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina? Brace yourselves. You’re looking at a slight dust haze. It won’t be super thick, so visibility should be okay, mostly. But that dusty air? Ugh. It ain’t great, especially if you’ve got asthma, or any kind of breathing issue. My friend, if that’s you, seriously, try to stay indoors if you can help it. Keep those windows shut.

Now, down south, it’s a totally different story. Almost like a different country, right? If you’re in Cross River, Rivers, Akwa Ibom – expect cloudy mornings. Nothing too exciting at first. But then, boom. Isolated thunderstorms are gonna start rolling in by afternoon. Maybe just light rain at first, a gentle sprinkle. But don’t let that fool you. That’s just the warm-up act. Later in the day, like as evening approaches? You’re talking Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, Ondo, Osun, Lagos, Ekiti, Ogun, Edo, Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers, Akwa Ibom – you’ll get thunderstorms, and not just any thunderstorms, but with moderate rain. It could get pretty intense, making your evening commute a bit of a nightmare.

And for our central region? That’s places like the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nasarawa, Kogi? You’re mostly looking at sunny skies with patches of clouds. Sounds nice, right? Don’t get too comfortable. NiMet’s saying to expect isolated thunderstorms later in the day. So, keep an umbrella handy, literally. Don’t leave home without it.

Tuesday’s Turn:

Moving into Tuesday, that dusty situation up North? It lingers. That slight dust haze, it’s still there. Visibility’s still generally good, but that dust ain’t gone anywhere. For folks in Taraba and Adamawa, though, you’re the unlucky ones getting more isolated thunderstorms and light rain pretty much all day long. Hope you don’t have outdoor plans.

Central Nigeria again? Sunny with clouds. Pretty standard. But hold up, Benue, you might get early morning thunderstorms. Yeah, right when you’re trying to start your day. And later, FCT, Nasarawa, Kogi? Moderate rain is on the cards. So, if you dodged the rain Monday, Tuesday might be your turn.

The South on Tuesday? Cloudy skies start the day for many. Rivers, Cross River, Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom are looking at moderate rain in the morning. But guess what? It gets heavier as the day goes on. This is where the real worry starts to kick in. Flood risk here. NiMet’s not just warning; they’re shouting it. They’re telling authorities to better get those emergency plans ready. Like, yesterday. Don’t mess around with this. Lives and property are at stake.

Wednesday’s Wrap:

Alright, let’s wrap up with Wednesday. Up North? You might finally get a break, with mostly sunny skies. A little relief from the haze, maybe. But, Taraba, you’re still getting isolated thunderstorms and light rain popping up later in the day. It’s like a stubborn cloud just followed you.

Central region? More sunny skies with clouds. The usual for you guys, mostly. Kogi and the FCT? Isolated thunderstorms with light rain are still likely. It seems a persistent weather pattern is setting in there.

Then the South. Again. Cloudy mornings. Then, get ready: Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, Delta, Akwa Ibom? Thunderstorms with moderate rain are gonna roll in hard by afternoon and evening. This isn’t just a shower; the flash flood risk is HIGH. I mean, seriously high. If you live in a low-lying area, or near a river, you need to be especially cautious.

NiMet’s Loud & Clear Warnings (You need to read this!):

Flood Watch: This is the big one. Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Cross River – please, water levels could rise fast. We’re talking flash floods. Authorities? You need to act NOW. Don’t wait. Emergency response teams? Activate them. Let’s not have a repeat of past disasters.
Drivers: Listen up! Rain means slick roads. Visibility drops to nearly nothing sometimes. Please, please, slow down. Like, way down. Don’t risk it. Hydroplaning is real, and it’s dangerous. Give yourself extra time.
Asthma/Respiratory Folks: That Northern dust haze? It absolutely ain’t your friend. I cannot stress this enough. Limit outdoor time. Wear a mask if you must go out. Protect your lungs.
Airlines: NiMet’s got airport-specific reports. Check them. Plan flights smart. Your passengers’ safety depends on it. Don’t cut corners.
Everyone Else: Keep glued to NiMet updates. Their website, social media, whatever. Weather shifts fast, and you want to be in the know.

Bottom Line:

The weather’s gonna shift fast, affecting practically every part of our great nation. Dust, rain, floods – it’s all coming. Know what’s happening in your area. Stay alert. Be prepared. Don’t get caught out. And if you need the absolute latest, head over to Reportersroom.ng/weather-alert. We’ll be keeping an eye on it for you. Stay safe, my people.