The Federal Government has issued a three-day weather forecast warning Nigerians to expect thunderstorms and rainfall across several parts of the country from Monday through Wednesday.

The warning was contained in the latest weather outlook released by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) in Abuja.

According to the report, there will be varying degrees of rainfall across the northern, North-Central and southern regions.

NiMet also warned that strong winds could occur before thunderstorms in some areas, urging residents to take precautions as the rainy conditions develop.

According to the agency, parts of Taraba, Kebbi and Niger states are expected to experience morning thunderstorms and light rainfall on Monday. The southern region is expected to remain largely cloudy, with isolated showers possible in Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states.

Later in the afternoon and evening, NiMet forecast moderate rainfall and scattered thunderstorms across the North-East, Kaduna, the North-Central region and several southern states.

The weather conditions are expected to continue into Tuesday, with thunderstorms and light-to-moderate rainfall forecast across most parts of the northern region.

NiMet also listed parts of the North-Central region, including the Federal Capital Territory, Niger, Nasarawa and Plateau states, among areas that could experience thunderstorms and rainfall.

Several parts of the southern region are also expected to record rainfall on Tuesday, with similar weather conditions forecast to persist through Wednesday.

The agency warned that thunderstorms could be accompanied by strong winds, particularly before the onset of rainfall.

NiMet advised members of the public to secure loose objects around their homes and other locations because such objects could be blown away by strong winds.

It also urged motorists to exercise caution and avoid driving during periods of heavy rainfall, particularly when visibility is reduced or roads become difficult to navigate.

“Driving under heavy rain should be avoided,” the agency said.

Residents were further advised to stay away from tall trees during thunderstorms because strong winds could break branches or bring down trees.

NiMet also urged Nigerians to disconnect electrical appliances from power sockets during thunderstorms to reduce the risk associated with lightning and electrical surges.

“Disconnect electrical appliances from electrical sockets. Stay away from tall trees to avoid impact from falling branches and broken trees,” the agency said.

Airline operators were also advised to obtain site-specific weather information from NiMet to support safe planning of flight operations during the forecast period.

The latest forecast is similar to weather warnings previously issued by NiMet during the rainy season.

In a three-day forecast issued in August, the agency had also predicted thunderstorms and moderate rainfall across different parts of the country, with the affected areas varying from day to day.

During that period, NiMet forecast sunny conditions with patches of clouds and possible early morning thunderstorms across parts of the northern region. Light rainfall was expected in areas including Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Kaduna, Borno, Taraba and Adamawa states.

The agency subsequently predicted thunderstorms accompanied by moderate rainfall across several parts of the North later in the afternoon and evening.

For the North-Central region, the August outlook also included possible thunderstorms and moderate rainfall over parts of Kwara, Niger, Kogi and the Federal Capital Territory.

The southern region was expected to remain predominantly cloudy, with rainfall forecast in parts of Oyo, Delta, Bayelsa, Cross River and Akwa Ibom in the morning and moderate rainfall expected in several other southern states later in the day.

The agency similarly forecast thunderstorms and rainfall across parts of the North and North-Central regions on the following days, while the southern states were expected to experience cloudy conditions and varying levels of rainfall.

NiMet’s latest warning comes as rainfall continues to pose risks to communities vulnerable to flooding and other weather-related hazards.

Residents in flood-prone locations are advised to remain alert, particularly where rainfall becomes prolonged or intense. Motorists are also expected to exercise caution on roads affected by flooding and avoid attempting to cross moving floodwater.

NiMet urged the public to continue monitoring official weather updates throughout the three-day period, particularly in areas where thunderstorms, heavy rainfall and strong winds are expected.