The new week may open with umbrellas in hand for many Nigerians. The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has issued a fresh three-day forecast, warning of thunderstorms and rain across different parts of the country between Monday and Wednesday. It also raised concerns about flash floods in some states in the north.

According to NiMet’s outlook released on Sunday in Abuja, Monday morning will likely begin with thunderstorms and moderate rains in parts of Kaduna, Gombe, Bauchi, Kebbi, Adamawa, and Taraba. More rains are expected later in the day across the northern region, especially in Adamawa, Taraba, and Gombe, where flash floods may occur.

The weather is expected to be slightly calmer in the central region, where cloudy skies with intervals of sunshine should dominate early on Monday. Showers are, however, forecast in Niger, Kogi, Kwara, the Federal Capital Territory, and Benue, with heavier rains moving in by evening.

In the southern states, cloudy conditions are likely in the morning with rain over Ekiti, Ondo, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River. By late afternoon, most of the south is expected to record moderate rainfall.

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Tuesday will follow a similar pattern, beginning with cloudy skies in the north before thunderstorms return in Borno, Kaduna, Gombe, Bauchi, Taraba, and Adamawa. By evening, other states, including Kano, Jigawa, Yobe, Katsina, Zamfara, and Kebbi, are expected to join in. 

The middle belt will also see morning showers in Kogi, Niger, Kwara, Nasarawa, and the FCT before heavier rains spread wider later in the day. Southern states such as Oyo, Enugu, Anambra, Ebonyi, and Delta are likely to record rainfall both morning and evening.

By Wednesday, the forecast shows cloudy skies across much of the north with scattered thunderstorms expected from the afternoon in Sokoto, Zamfara, Borno, Adamawa, Taraba, Kaduna, Kebbi, and beyond. The FCT, Kogi, Kwara, and Niger may experience light rains early before storms push into Benue and surrounding states in the evening. The south is expected to remain largely wet, with morning clouds giving way to rain across several states.

NiMet urged motorists to avoid travelling during heavy downpours and advised farmers to hold back on applying fertilisers or pesticides just before rainfall. Residents were also reminded to secure loose objects, switch off electrical appliances, and stay away from tall trees during storms. Airline operators were encouraged to seek location-specific weather updates before flights.

For daily updates, the agency directed Nigerians to its official website, www.nimet.gov.ng.

Cynthia Nwanonyiri