The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted heavy rainfall in 14 states this week.
They are Niger, Plateau, Benue, Kaduna, Taraba, Delta, Imo, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Rivers, Bayelsa, Ekiti and Osun states.
The agency said the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) is expected to be strong over the West African region.
MJO is the major fluctuation in tropical weather on weekly to monthly timescales.
The agency explained that the strong MJO would lead to heavy rainfall.
This is contained in the weekly weather forecast bulletin issued by NiMet yesterday.
The forecast is valid for seven days.
The bulletin reads: “During the week, the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) is expected to be strong within the week over the West African region.
“Good moisture influx and velocity divergence are expected to enhance the prospects of heavy rainfall over parts of Niger, Plateau, Benue, Kaduna, Taraba, Delta, Imo, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Rivers, Bayelsa, Ekiti and Osun states.”
The agency also highlighted some states that would experience moderate to heavy rainfall.
“Moderate to heavy rainfall is anticipated over parts of Zamfara, Kano, Borno, Gombe, Adamawa, the Federal Capital Territory, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Ondo, Lagos, Edo, Enugu, Ebonyi and Anambra states,” it said.
NiMet predicted low rainfall over parts of Sokoto, Katsina, Jigawa and Yobe states.
It added that the rest of the country should experience low to moderate rainfall.
The agency warned that the heavy rainfall in some parts of the country could lead to flash floods.
“There are prospects of flash floods on roads, bridges and low-lying areas which can disrupt vehicular traffic.
“The public is advised to take necessary safety precautions; do not walk through fast-flowing runoff waters,” it warned.
The agency also predicted the maximum and minimum temperature that would be witnessed by various states this week.
It stated that the maximum temperature range of 35 – 40oC is anticipated over parts of Sokoto, Katsina, Jigawa, Yobe, Kebbi, Zamfara, Kano, Bauchi, Gombe and Borno states.
“Temperature range of 30 – 35oC is expected over parts of Kaduna, Plateau, Taraba, Lagos, Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers states.
“The rest of the country is expected to experience a temperature range of 25 – 30oC.”
According to NiMet, the minimum temperature range of 15 – 20oC is expected over parts of Plateau states.
It stated that a temperature range of 25 – 30oC is anticipated over parts of Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, Yobe, Gombe and Borno states.
Temperatures 20 – 25oC and above are expected over the remaining parts of the country, NiMet added.