The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has forecast dust haze and thunderstorms in different parts of the country between Friday and Sunday, urging residents to take necessary precautions against possible weather-related risks.
In its weather outlook released on Thursday in Abuja, the agency predicted slight dust haze across most parts of the northern region, while moderate haze is expected in some areas of Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi and Kaduna States.
For Friday, NiMet forecast isolated thunderstorms accompanied by light rainfall over parts of Taraba State during the afternoon or evening.
The agency also expected sunny weather with patches of clouds across the North-Central region, with isolated thunderstorms and light rains likely in parts of Kogi, Kwara, the Federal Capital Territory and Benue State later in the day.
Across the southern region, cloudy conditions are expected during the morning hours, with chances of light rainfall over parts of Delta and Bayelsa States.
NiMet further predicted thunderstorms accompanied by moderate rainfall over parts of Ondo, Ogun, Osun and Ekiti States, as well as other areas in the South-East and South-South regions, later on Friday.
For Saturday, the agency said northern states would experience sunny and hazy weather throughout the day.
The North-Central region is expected to have sunny skies with patches of clouds in the morning. However, isolated thunderstorms accompanied by light rainfall may occur over parts of Kogi, Kwara and Benue States during the afternoon or evening.
NiMet also forecast cloudy weather across the southern region in the morning, followed by thunderstorms accompanied by moderate rainfall in most areas later in the day.
On Sunday, slight dust haze is expected to persist over most parts of the northern region throughout the forecast period.
The agency predicted sunny skies with patches of clouds across the North-Central region, while the southern region is expected to experience cloudy conditions during the morning.
It said thunderstorms accompanied by light rainfall could occur over parts of Imo, Abia and Anambra States, while light rainfall is also expected in some parts of the South-West and South-South regions later in the day.
As part of its safety advisory, NiMet urged residents to protect themselves against suspended dust particles, particularly people living with asthma and other respiratory conditions.
The agency warned that strong winds could occur before thunderstorms and advised residents to secure loose objects around their homes and workplaces to prevent them from being blown away.
It also cautioned the public against standing under tall trees during thunderstorms because falling branches or broken trees could cause injuries.
Residents were further advised to disconnect electrical appliances from power sockets whenever thunderstorms occur to reduce the risk of electrical damage and related incidents.
NiMet also urged airline operators to obtain airport-specific weather reports and flight documentation from the agency to support safe and effective flight planning.
The agency encouraged members of the public to monitor regular weather updates through its official website.
