On Friday, September 8, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) forecasts significant rainfall in around 21 states across the nation.
According to the weather forecast issued by NiMet on Thursday, September 7, some areas of the states of Kwara and Niger will see heavy rain on Friday.
The organization also predicted moderate to heavy rainfall for 20 other states.
The 24-hour heavy rainfall is expected to vary from moderate rain to flash flooding, riverine flooding, soil erosion, powerful gusts, thunder, and lightning.
This development may increase flooding fears across the nation, especially as the rainy season reaches its climax.
Moving further, NiMet predicted moderate to heavy rainfall on Saturday, September 9, in parts of Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Yobe, Benue, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto states.
In Borno, Bauchi, Kaduna, and Niger states, the agency predicted low to moderate rainfall on Saturday.
Moving on, NiMet forecasted that on Saturday, September 9, there would be moderate to heavy rainfall in some areas of the states of Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Yobe, Benue, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Zamfara, and Sokoto.
The organization forecast low to moderate rainfall for Borno, Bauchi, Kaduna, and Niger states on Saturday.
Nimet claims that the chances of moderate to heavy rainfall on Sunday, September 10 in some areas of Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Delta, Bayelsa, and River states are limited.
Parts of the states of Borno, Gombe, Yobe, Bauchi, Plateau, Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Oyo, Nasarawa, Benue, Kogi, Cross River, Edo, Rivers, and Imo are expected to have low to moderate rainfall.
According to the agency’s forecast, Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, Taraba, Plateau, and Kaduna states are likely to experience some very high winds, according to Daily Trust.
NiMet issued a warning to the public and the authorities about potential isolated occurrences of forced relocation due to flash floods.
Additionally, it issued warnings about rare instances of weak construction degradation as well as waterborne illness outbreaks.
According to NiMet, the current weather conditions may also result in fatalities, serious injuries, decreased visibility, and disruptions to motor traffic.
Therefore, it advocated updating flood preparedness measures and raising public awareness among the disaster response management authorities.
Below are the states listed for heavy rainfall:
Sokoto
Zamfara
Katsina
Kano
Bauchi
Kaduna
Plateau
Oyo
Kogi
Nasarawa
Benue
Adamawa
Taraba
Cross River
Imo
Ondo
Edo
Delta
Bayelsa
Rivers