The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has forecast cloudy skies, thunderstorms and moderate to heavy rainfall across several parts of Nigeria from Wednesday to Friday.
The weather outlook, released in Abuja on Tuesday, also warned of possible flash floods in parts of Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states during the period.
For Wednesday, NiMet predicted patches of cloud over the northern region, with morning thunderstorms and light rains in parts of Taraba and Kebbi. Later in the day, isolated thunderstorms with moderate rainfall are expected across parts of Taraba, Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Sokoto, Katsina, Zamfara, Jigawa, Kano and Kaduna states.
In the North-Central region, morning thunderstorms with light rains are expected in parts of Nasarawa, Niger, Benue and the Federal Capital Territory, while moderate rains are anticipated across most parts of the region later in the day.
The southern region is expected to experience a generally cloudy atmosphere, with morning rains forecast over parts of Lagos, Ondo, Ogun, Oyo, Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Cross River, Abia, Imo, Ebonyi and Akwa Ibom. Moderate rainfall is expected across most parts of the region later in the day.
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On Thursday, NiMet forecast patches of clouds across the northern region, with morning thunderstorms and light rains over parts of Jigawa, Kano, Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe and Kaduna.
Moderate thunderstorms are expected later in the day across Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa and Taraba.
The North-Central region is expected to have sunny conditions with patches of clouds, alongside morning thunderstorms and light rains over parts of the FCT, Nasarawa, Plateau, Niger and Benue. Moderate rainfall is forecast across the entire region later in the day.
In the South, light morning rains are expected over parts of Ondo, Ogun, Abia, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi, Lagos, Akwa Ibom and Cross River, followed by continuous rains over most parts of the region.
For Friday, NiMet predicted partly cloudy skies in the North, with morning thunderstorms and moderate rains over Taraba and Adamawa. Afternoon and evening thunderstorms are expected across Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, Kano, Jigawa, Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Adamawa and Taraba.
The agency also forecast morning thunderstorms and light rains over parts of the FCT, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa and Niger, with moderate rainfall expected across much of the North-Central region later in the day.
Southern states, including Ondo, Ebonyi, Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River, are expected to record moderate morning rains, with further rainfall across most parts of the region later.
NiMet cautioned that strong winds could precede thunderstorms and urged residents to secure loose objects to prevent accidents.
It advised residents in areas prone to flash floods to activate emergency response measures, avoid driving during heavy rainfall and disconnect electrical appliances from power sources.
The agency also urged people to stay away from tall trees during storms because of the risk of falling branches.
Airline operators were advised to obtain airport-specific weather reports from NiMet to support flight planning and operations.