The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has issued a weather forecast indicating a mix of haziness and sunshine across the country from Sunday through Tuesday. The agency released the outlook on Saturday, warning of moderate dust haze particularly affecting the northern regions.
On Sunday, NiMet predicts that the northern region will experience moderate dust haze with horizontal visibility ranging from 2 kilometers to 5 kilometers. The agency has also highlighted the possibility of localized visibility dropping to 1,000 meters or less during this period.
“In the North Central region, sunny skies with patches of clouds are expected in the morning hours,” the forecast stated. As the day progresses, thunderstorms accompanied by moderate rain are likely to develop over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Kogi, Benue, and Nasarawa States, particularly in the afternoon and evening.
The southern region is also set to see activity, with morning thunderstorms and moderate rain expected over parts of Ondo, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River States. NiMet anticipates that thunderstorms with moderate rain will spread to most areas later in the day.
Looking ahead to Monday, NiMet reiterates that the northern region will continue to experience moderate dust haze, maintaining similar visibility levels as observed on Sunday. In the North Central region, the forecast suggests sunny skies with occasional clouds in the morning, but thunderstorms are expected in the afternoon over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Kwara, Benue, and Kogi States.
Moreover, morning thunderstorms with moderate rain are anticipated for Imo, Ebonyi, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Lagos States. “Later in the day, thunderstorms are anticipated over most places,” the agency added, indicating widespread rainfall.
Tuesday’s forecast mirrors the previous days, with moderate dust haze in the northern region. Localized visibility issues are expected to persist, while sunny conditions will continue in the central region throughout the day. In the south, morning thunderstorms are predicted over Cross River and Akwa Ibom, with further rainfall expected later.
NiMet has also issued health advisories in light of the ongoing dust conditions. The agency cautions that “people with asthma and other respiratory conditions should be cautious under the present weather conditions.” It warns of potential strong winds preceding rain in areas where thunderstorms are expected.
The agency encourages the public to adhere to safety advisories from relevant authorities and advises airline operators to secure airport-specific weather reports from NiMet for effective flight planning. For ongoing updates, residents are urged to visit the NiMet website at www.nimet.gov.ng.
