By Atoyebi Nike
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has issued a three-day weather outlook warning of widespread thunderstorms, moderate to heavy rains, and a high risk of flooding in parts of the country from Thursday, August 14, to Saturday, August 16, 2025.
The forecast, released by NiMet’s Central Forecast Office on Wednesday, highlights states in the northern, central, and southern regions expected to be most affected, with authorities urged to activate emergency response systems in flood-prone areas.
On Thursday, August 14, morning thunderstorms with moderate rains are expected over Borno, Kebbi, Gombe, Bauchi, Yobe, Jigawa, Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Kano, Sokoto, and Taraba, with afternoon to evening storms likely to persist across many of the same states, including Adamawa. NiMet warns of a high possibility of flooding in Zamfara, Sokoto, Gombe, Bauchi, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, and Taraba. In the central region, morning thunderstorms are expected over Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue, Kogi, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and Niger, with afternoon rains in FCT, Plateau, Niger, Nasarawa, Benue, Kwara, and Kogi, and a high flood risk in Nasarawa and Benue. In the south, light morning rains are expected in Rivers, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom, with heavier afternoon rains in Oyo, Osun, Edo, Ondo, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Bayelsa, and a flood risk in Cross River.
On Friday, August 15, morning thunderstorms are expected in Bauchi, Gombe, Kano, Taraba, Yobe, Borno, Kaduna, Katsina, Jigawa, Sokoto, and Zamfara, continuing into the afternoon across most of the region, with a high flood risk in Zamfara, Katsina, Kano, and Bauchi. In the central region, morning storms will affect FCT, Niger, Nasarawa, Plateau, Benue, Kwara, and Kogi, with lighter afternoon rains in the same areas and flood risks in Benue, Niger, Kogi, and FCT. In the southern region, morning light rains are expected in Oyo, Ogun, Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Imo, Ondo, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Cross River, and Lagos, with afternoon rains in Imo, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Lagos, Edo, Delta, Rivers, Cross River, and Bayelsa.
On Saturday, August 16, morning storms are expected over Katsina, Kebbi, Kaduna, Borno, Jigawa, Yobe, Taraba, and Sokoto, with afternoon rains across similar states and flood risks in Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara. In the central region, morning light rains are expected in Niger, Nasarawa, Plateau, and FCT, followed by afternoon storms across the entire region. In the southern region, light morning rains are expected in Ondo, Osun, Ebonyi, and Cross River, with afternoon rains over Ondo, Osun, Ogun, Edo, Oyo, Ekiti, Ebonyi, and Rivers.
NiMet advised Nigerians to avoid driving during heavy rains, urged states with high flood risk to activate emergency response systems immediately, and cautioned farmers to delay applying fertilizers or pesticides before the rains. The agency also advised securing loose outdoor items, avoiding sheltering under tall trees during storms, and disconnecting electrical appliances during thunderstorms. Airline operators were urged to obtain location-specific weather reports for flight safety, while residents were encouraged to follow updates via NiMet’s official channels. NiMet warned that the forecasted weather could worsen flooding in areas already affected by recent heavy rains.
