NiMet forecasts 3-day rain, thunderstorms, flood risk across Nigeria

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has forecast widespread thunderstorms and rainfall across Nigeria from Wednesday to Friday, July 17, 2026, warning of possible flash flooding in parts of the South-East and South-South regions.

NiMet, in its weather outlook released on Tuesday, predicted patches of clouds in the northern region on Wednesday, with morning thunderstorms and light rainfall expected in parts of Taraba and Kebbi states.

The agency said isolated thunderstorms accompanied by moderate rainfall would later affect parts of Taraba, Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Sokoto, Katsina, Zamfara, Jigawa, Kano, and Kaduna states.

For the North-Central region, NiMet forecast morning thunderstorms with light rains in parts of Nasarawa, Niger, Benue, and the Federal Capital Territory, while moderate thunderstorms and rainfall are expected across most parts of the region later in the day.

In the South, NiMet predicted cloudy conditions with morning rainfall in parts of Lagos, Ondo, Ogun, Oyo, Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Cross River, Abia, Imo, Ebonyi, and Akwa Ibom states, with moderate rainfall expected across much of the region later on Wednesday.

On Thursday, NiMet forecast patches of clouds across the North, with morning thunderstorms and light rainfall in parts of Jigawa, Kano, Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, and Kaduna states.

Moderate thunderstorms are expected later in the day in Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, and Taraba states.

The agency also predicted sunny skies with patches of clouds in the North-Central region, alongside morning thunderstorms in the FCT, Nasarawa, Plateau, Niger, and Benue states before moderate rainfall spreads across the region in the afternoon and evening.

For the South, NiMet forecast light rainfall on Thursday morning in parts of Ondo, Ogun, Abia, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi, Lagos, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River states, followed by continuous rainfall across most parts of the region.

The agency also warned of a high risk of flooding in Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River states during the forecast period.

On Friday, NiMet said partly cloudy skies are expected across the northern part of the country, with morning thunderstorms in Taraba and Adamawa states.

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By afternoon and evening, moderate thunderstorms are likely over Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, Kano, Jigawa, Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Adamawa, and Taraba states.

In the North-Central region, morning thunderstorms are expected in the Federal Capital Territory, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, and Niger states, with moderate rainfall forecast across most parts of the region later in the day.

The agency also predicted cloudy conditions across southern Nigeria, with moderate rainfall expected in parts of Ondo, Ebonyi, Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River states during the morning, before spreading to most parts of the region.

NiMet cautioned that strong winds may precede thunderstorms in affected areas and urged residents to secure loose objects to prevent damage.

The agency also advised states at risk of flash flooding to activate emergency response mechanisms, while motorists were urged to avoid driving during heavy rainfall and residents encouraged to unplug electrical appliances during storms.

It further warned people to stay away from tall trees to reduce the risk of injuries from falling branches and advised airline operators to obtain airport-specific weather reports from NiMet for effective flight planning.