NiMet forecasts delayed rainfall in 8 states

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted that eight northern states will experience a delayed onset of rainfall in 2025.

This is contained in NiMet 2025 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) unveiled by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, in Abuja on Tuesday, February 4.

NiMet stated that the states include Plateau, Kaduna, Niger, Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba, Adamawa and Kwara.

The agency also predicted that Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Anambra, and parts of Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Lagos, Edo, Enugu, Imo, and Ebonyi States would witness early onset of rainfall.

It said: “Earlier than the long-term average end-of-rainy season is predicted over parts of Zamfara, Katsina, Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Plateau, Bauchi, Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Taraba, Niger, Kwara, Kogi, FCT, Ekiti, and Ondo States.

“A delayed end of season is expected over parts of Kaduna, Nasarawa, Benue, Lagos, Kwara, Taraba, Oyo, Ogun, Cross River, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Anambra, and Enugu States.”

According to NiMet, the predicted length of the rainy season in 2025 is expected to be mostly normal across the country.

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NiMet, however, forecast shorter than normal length of season in Borno State and parts of Yobe State.

The agency envisaged that Lagos and Nasarawa States would have longer than normal length of seasons in 2025.

NiMet added: “A normal to below-normal annual rainfall is anticipated in most parts of Nigeria compared to long-term average.

“Parts of Kebbi, Kaduna, Ebonyi, Cross River, Lagos Abia, Akwa Ibom States, and FCT are expected to have above-normal annual rainfall amounts.

“High-intensity rainfall is expected in May to June that may likely result in flash floods in the coastal cities.

“As with previous years, there are pre-onset rainfall activities that should not be confused with the actual onset of rainy season.”

NiMet anticipated a severe dry spell of above 15 days after the establishment of rainfall in Oyo State (Saki, Iseyin, Ogbomosho, Atisbo, Orelope, Itesiwaju, Olorunsogo, Kajola, Iwajowa and Ori Ire), during the April-May-June (AMJ) season.

It stated: “Moderate dry spell that may last up to 15 days is likely to occur in Ekiti, Osun, Ondo, Ogun, Edo, Ebonyi, Anambra, Imo, Abia, Cross River, Delta, Bayelsa, and Akwa Ibom in the south.

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“However, for the northern states, a severe dry spell that may last up to 21 days is predicted for the June-July-August (JJA) season of 2025.

“The Little Dry Season (LDS), also known as ‘August Break’ is predicted to begin by late July and would be severe only in parts of Lagos and Ogun states.

“The number of days with either little or no rainfall will range between 27 to 40 days. Moderate LDS effect is expected over parts of Ogun, Oyo, and Ekiti States.”

The agency further predicted either light or mild LDS in Osun, Oyo, Kwara, and parts of Ondo-North.

NiMet also envisaged temperatures to be generally above the long-term average across the country.

NiMet added: “Both daytime and nighttime temperatures are predicted to be warmer than the long-term average over most parts of the country in January, February, March, and May 2025.

“However, April day and night time temperatures are predicted to be generally cooler than normal, while warmer than normal temperatures are likely to be experienced over most of the northern states.”

The Star