By Dele Ogbodo
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) has predicted that rainfall across the country will be normal with 400-800mm in North and 3000mm in the coastal areas, even as it will commence early in the first quarter of the year in February in the South and late June in the extreme North.
It averred that: “It is necessary to state that the expected normal rainfall in parts if the country does not rule out the possibility of isolated flash floods due to high intensity of rainfall at the peak of the season, especially in places that are naturally prone to flooding.”
Speaking at the presentation of the Seasonal Rainfall Prediction (SRP), 2018 and the unveiling of the 2017 Nigerian Climate Review Bulletin, the Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, said though the year will experience a normal pattern of rainfall, Calabar, Ado-Ekiti, Akure, Lafia Kaduna and Sokoto may experience earlier onset of rain.
The minister called on farmers to take advantage of NIMET’s predictions to prepare for the planting in order to reap bountiful reward on their investment. He added that farmers who relied in the 2017 SRP did better than the previous years.
Sirika said: “Rainfall cessation dates are expected to be as early as September 28th over the northwest and progress southwards till December.
A normal cessation is predicted is predicted for most parts of the country except for Jos, Ibi, and few places in the south where early cessation is likely. However, it is likely to be prolonged over the Warri, Ondo Ibadan and parts of Lagos.”
According to him, the forecast of growing season ranges from 117 in the North to 287 days in the South, adding that it is expected to normal in most places and longer over Ikom, Abuja, Bida and Yelwa.
In a remark, the Director General of the agency, Prof. Sani Mashi, the annual SRP is part of the agency’s meteorological early warning system, containing rainfall and temperature outlook for the year as well as the socio-economic implications of the projected weather patterns.
The DG said the SRP is essential for planning and decision making processes across all sectors of the economy adding that it is Cardinal in supporting government’s policy of economic diversification.
According to him, the information is vital for protecting life and property, safeguarding the environment and for policy formulation.
He said: “The forecast indicates a normal-to-earlier than normal onset, normal cessation and normal rainfall amounts in many parts of the country. Also dry so elks during the rainy season may be more frequent than severe (10-18 days) in some parts of the extreme North, while the little dry season or August break in parts of the South are expected to be pronounced.”