Starting from the early hours of Friday, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has forecasted “extreme heavy rainfall” in certain areas of Taraba and Adamawa states.

NiMet has also predicted “heavy and moderate rainfall” in parts of Borno, Gombe, Yobe, Plateau, Kaduna, Jigawa, Kano, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Abia, Imo, Rivers, Bayelsa, Anambra, Delta, and Enugu.

During this period, there is a high likelihood of 24 hours of continuous rainfall, which NiMet warns could result in flash flooding, riverine flooding, soil erosion, thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds.

This extreme rainfall could potentially lead to significant displacement of people due to floods, outbreaks of waterborne diseases, damage to infrastructure such as roads and bridges, loss of lives, injuries, reduced visibility, and disruption of vehicular traffic.

To mitigate these risks, NiMet calls upon civil protection services and Disaster Risk Management (DRM) authorities to activate contingency plans for disaster preparedness and emergency response. These plans should include awareness campaigns, assistance to victims, search and rescue operations, and close coordination with the National Hydrological Meteorological Services (NHMS) for accurate national-level information.

In a multi-hazard high impact forecast issued on Thursday, NiMet also anticipates low to moderate rainfall in areas of Bauchi, the FCT, Edo, Kogi, Benue, and Kano state.

For the rest of the country, there is little or no risk of hydrometeorological hazards, according to NiMet.

Additionally, NiMet forecasts “some chances of high temperature (38 – 41oC) over parts of Borno and Yobe State” on Friday.

On Saturday, NiMet expects heavy and moderate rainfall in various states, including Adamawa, Taraba, Jigawa, Bauchi, Katsina, Kano, Zamfara, Niger, Kaduna, Kwara, Kogi, Nasarawa, Edo, Delta, Osun, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti, and the FCT.

There are also prospects of low to moderate rainfall in parts of Yobe, Bauchi, Sokoto, Kebbi, Ogun, Kano, Imo, Bayelsa, and Delta state.

NiMet mentions “slim chances of moderately high temperatures especially over parts of Lagos, Ogun, and Delta State” and minimal temperature-related hazards elsewhere in the country on Saturday.

On Sunday, NiMet predicts moderate rainfall in various states, including Sokoto, Zamfara, Taraba, Adamawa, Edo, Delta, Ondo, Ekiti, Osun, Ogun, Lagos, Oyo, Kwara, and Niger State.

Meanwhile, low to moderate rainfall is expected in places like Sokoto, Zamfara, Kogi, Kebbi, Kano, and Taraba state.

For the majority of the country, there is little or no risk of hydrometeorological hazards, and temperature-related hazards are also unlikely due to the expected low to moderate temperatures on Sunday.

Between Friday and Sunday, NiMet cautions that there is a likelihood of very strong winds affecting the extreme northern parts of the country, including Niger, Kebbi, Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Kaduna, Bauchi, Yobe, and Borno States.

Strong winds are also anticipated in Taraba, Gombe, Plateau, the FCT, Kwara, Nasarawa, Plateau, and Benue state, with a high risk of hazards due to strong winds in these locations over the next three days.

NiMet advises the updating of contingency plans and improved disaster management during strong winds. Authorities are urged to be prepared to take appropriate actions and stay in constant contact with the National Hydrological Meteorological Services to receive detailed information on expected meteorological conditions.