The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted dust haze across the northern region in the country from Friday to Sunday.

NiMet’s weather outlook released on Thursday in Abuja predicted dust haze on Friday, with visibility range of 2km to 5km and localised visibility of less than, or equal to, 1000m over the northern region in the morning hours.

The agency predicted thunderstorms over parts of Kaduna, Zamfara, Adamawa, Bauchi, Taraba, Gombe and Southern Borno in the afternoon and evening hours.

“Hazy atmosphere with patches of clouds are expected over the north-central region with thunderstorms over parts of Niger, Kwara and the Federal Capital Territory in the morning hours.

“Further into the day, thunderstorms are expected over parts of Kogi, the Federal Capital Territory, Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue and Kwara States.

“The southern region should be under cloudy skies with thunderstorms over parts of Edo, Delta, Cross River and Akwa Ibom states in the morning hours.

“Later in the day, thunderstorms with rains are expected over parts of Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Enugu, Ebonyi and Abia.

“Also to experience thunderstorms with rains are Imo, Anambra, Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Lagos states,” it said.

According to NiMet, dust haze with visibility range of 2km to 5km is expected over the northern region in the morning hours of Sunday.

NiMet anticipated isolated thunderstorms over parts of Taraba and southern Adamawa in the afternoon and evening hours.

“Hazy atmosphere with patches of clouds are expected over the north-central region in the morning hours with chances of thunderstorms over parts of Niger, the Federal Capital Territory, Kwara and Nasarawa states.

“Cloudy skies with spells of sunshine are expected over the inland cities of the south and the coastal belt with few thunderstorms over parts of Ebonyi, Cross River and Akwa Ibom states in the morning hours.

“Later in the day, thunderstorms are expected over parts of Ondo, Osun, Edo, Imo, Enugu, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Lagos, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states,” it said.

The agency envisaged moderate dust haze over the northern region in the morning hours of Sunday with few thunderstorms over parts of Taraba in the afternoon and evening hours.

It predicted a hazy atmosphere with patches of clouds over the north-central region in the morning hours and thunderstorms over parts of Nasarawa and the Federal Capital Territory later in the day.

“Cloudy skies are anticipated over the southern region with prospects of thunderstorms over parts of Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Edo, Lagos, Delta and Bayelsa states in the morning hours.

“Later in the day, thunderstorms are expected over parts of Osun, Ekiti, Ondo, Delta, Ebonyi, Oyo, Ogun, Lagos, Awka, Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Bayelsa states,” it said.

According to it, moderate to heavy rainfall could lead to flash floods.

“The public is advised to take necessary caution, avoid driving and walking through flood waters.

“NiMet envisages strong winds to likely precede and accompany the thunderstorms.

“Citizens are advised to take necessary safety precautions. Disaster risk managers, agencies and individuals should be proactive to avert loss of lives and property during the rainy season.

“All airline operators are advised to avail themselves of weather reports/alerts periodically from NiMet for effective planning of their operations,” it said.

(NAN)