On Thursday, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) predicted that certain regions of Kwara and Niger would experience heavy rainfall on Friday, as well as moderate to heavy rain in 20 other states.
This was contained in the impact based weather forecast.
According to the report, 24-hour heavy rainfall during the forecast period is likely to be accompanied by low to moderate rainfall, flash flooding, riverine flooding, soil erosion, high winds, thunder, and lightning.
As the rainy season peaks, this will likely worsen flooding risks in several areas of the country.
NiMet further stated that moderate to heavy rainfall is expected on Saturday over parts of Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Yobe, Benue, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto State.
Furthermore, it said there are prospects of “Low to Moderate Rainfall” over Borno, Bauchi, Kaduna, Niger on Saturday.
“Elsewhere there is little or no risk of hydrometeorological hazard,” the report added.
For Sunday, the report stated that “there are slim prospects of Moderate to Heavy Rainfall over parts of Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Delta, Bayelsa and River State.
“Meanwhile Low to Moderate Rainfall is expected over parts of Borno, Gombe, Yobe, Bauchi, Plateau, Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Oyo, Nasarawa, Benue, Kogi, Cross River, Edo, Rivers and Imo State,” it added but with “little or no risk of hydrometeorological hazard.”
For three days, NiMet observed that there are good chances of very strong winds to affect parts of Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Kano, jigawa, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, Taraba, Plateau and Kaduna State while strong winds are anticipated over the rest of the country.
The agency forecast warned of isolated cases of water-borne disease outbreak, damage to weak structures, and people displacement due to flash floods throughout the forecast period starting on Friday.
Additionally, the 24-hour accumulation of rain may result in fatalities, injuries, reduced visibility, and disruptions to vehicular traffic.
The report advised updating flood contingency measures and increasing public awareness among disaster response management authorities.
The states with heavy rainfall are listed below:
1. Sokoto
2. Zamfara
3. Katsina
4. Kano
5. Bauchi
6. Kaduna
7. Plateau
8. Oyo
9. Kogi
10. Nasarawa
11. Benue
12. Adamawa
13. Taraba
14. Cross River
15. Imo
16. Ondo
17. Edo
18. Delta
19. Bayelsa
20. Rivers
Ada Peter
