THE Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has warned of severe thunderstorms approaching from the northeastern part of the country.
A statement released on Wednesday, April 17, by NiMet spokesperson Muntari Ibrahim disclosed that severe thunderstorm cells are currently being observed over the northeastern parts of the country.
The statement noted that Borno, Adamawa, Gombe and Taraba are the states likely to be affected by the thunderstorms.
“Severe thunderstorm cells are currently being observed over the northeastern parts of the country including Borno, Adamawa, Gombe and Taraba; moving in a North-East-South-West direction with a ground speed of 30 km/h.
“These are expected to propagate westward to give squally thunderstorms to some cities.”
According to the statement, another thunderstorm cell was observed developing over Jos’ high grounds, accompanied by stormy winds and heavy rains.
The thunderstorm observed over Jos is expected to spread westwards and affect parts of Gombe, Bauchi, Benue and Plateau states.
Other states which are expected to be affected by thunderstorms include Nasarawa, Enugu, Ebonyi and northern Cross River.
The statement stressed that parts of Kaduna, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Niger are expected to experience thunderstorms with moderate to heavy rains.
Strong winds are likely to precede the rains where thunderstorms are expected and as such, trees, electric poles, unsecured objects and weak buildings may be felled.
NiMet advised members of the public to be cautious to avoid being struck by lightning.
The Agency also stressed the need for airline operators to avail themselves of weather reports periodically for effective planning in their operations.
“Disaster risk managers, agencies and individuals should be proactive to avert loss of lives and property during the rainy season.
“The Central Forecast Office (CFO) in NiMet will continue to monitor the weather and provide updates when necessary”, the statement said.
The ICIR earlier reported that the Federal Government disclosed that 32 states, 178 local government areas (LGAs) and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are at risk of heavy flooding in 2023.
The Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu disclosed this at the presentation of the General Highlights of the 2023 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) organised by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency.
Adamu stated that the forecast for 2023 AFO shows that many states are at high risk of flooding.
According to him, 24 LGAs in 35 states of the federation including the FCT fall within the moderately probable flood risk areas. The remaining 402 Local Government Areas fall within the probable flood risk areas.
The minister stated that the highly probable flood-risk states include: Adamawa, Abia, Akwa-Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Ekiti, and Edo.
Other states at risk are: Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara and the Federal Capital Territory.
The ICIR also reported that the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) urged residents of riverine and flood-prone communities across the country to relocate to higher grounds before flooding starts this year
Speaking during a Twitter Space organised by organised by The ICIR on April 27, NEMA spokesperson Manzo Ezekiel said relocation will protect residents of flood-prone areas from the impact of another flood disaster which is most likely to occur based on NiMet predictions.
“The NiMET weather prediction is almost hundred per cent accurate,” the NEMA spokesperson said.
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