Expect 3-day haziness, sunshine, NiMet predicts

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has forecast a combination of dust haze, sunshine, and thunderstorms across various regions in Nigeria from Sunday, October 29, to Tuesday, October 31.

Sunday: Dust Haze in the North, Thunderstorms in the South and Central Regions

According to NiMet’s weather outlook released on Saturday, moderate dust haze is expected to persist in the northern region on Sunday. The haze is likely to reduce horizontal visibility to between 2km and 5km, with localized areas potentially experiencing visibility of less than 1km.

In the North Central region, NiMet predicts sunny skies with scattered clouds in the morning, followed by thunderstorms with moderate rainfall in the afternoon and evening over the Federal Capital Territory, Kogi, Benue, and Nasarawa States.

The Southern region is expected to experience morning thunderstorms with moderate rains over parts of Ondo, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River States. The agency anticipates that thunderstorms will extend to other areas later in the day.

Monday: Dust Haze Continues in the North, More Thunderstorms in the South and Central Regions

NiMet’s forecast for Monday shows that the moderate dust haze will persist in the northern region, with visibility remaining between 2km and 5km and localized reductions to less than 1km in some areas.

In the North Central region, sunny skies with patches of clouds are expected in the morning, while thunderstorms are forecast for parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Kwara, Benue, and Kogi States later in the day.

Meanwhile, in the southern region, morning thunderstorms are expected over Imo, Ebonyi, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Lagos States, with most areas likely to experience further thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening.

Tuesday: Persistent Dust Haze in the North, Scattered Thunderstorms in Central and Southern Regions

For Tuesday, NiMet predicts continued moderate dust haze in the northern region, maintaining visibility levels between 2km and 5km and localized drops to 1km in some areas.

The central region is expected to experience sunny skies with patches of clouds throughout the day, while the southern region may see morning thunderstorms with moderate rains over Cross River and Akwa Ibom States. Thunderstorms are anticipated to extend to other areas later in the day.

Health and Safety Advisory

NiMet cautioned the public to be aware of the prevailing weather conditions, advising those with respiratory conditions such as asthma to take extra precautions. The agency also warned of the possibility of strong winds accompanying thunderstorms in some areas.

In addition, NiMet urged airline operators to seek airport-specific weather updates for efficient flight planning, given the reduced visibility in the northern regions.

NiMet emphasized the importance of adhering to safety advisories issued by relevant authorities to mitigate risks associated with the forecasted weather conditions.