Nimet Unravels Abuja’s Endless Rain Mystery and Widespread Phenomenon Across Nigeria

InfoStride News reports that the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has elucidated the reasons behind the prolonged rainfall during this period in the country. The Central Forecast Office (CFO) of NiMet, under the leadership of Prof. Mansur Matazu, the Director-General, attributes the continuous rainfalls to the connection between the mid-latitude trough and thermal-lows over West Africa.

While the conventional rainfall period in Nigeria typically spans from April to October, several regions, particularly the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and numerous Northern states, have been witnessing persistent and heavy rainfalls.

Matazu explained that the mid-latitude trough is responsible for pulling the Inter-Tropical Discontinuity (ITD) far northward above the country, covering approximately Lat 8.00N to about 12.00N within a 48-hour period. This results in a substantial influx of moisture into the country, particularly in the western half.

The statement from NiMet indicates that, conversely, the ITD is anticipated to experience a southward displacement during this season. With the increased moisture content and the pre-existing high energy in the atmosphere, the natural consequence is condensation and the formation of clouds.

The recent thunderstorms experienced in the Northwestern and Northcentral parts of the country, including Abuja, FCT, were a direct result of the cloud build-up, occurring specifically on Saturday, November 25th, and Sunday, November 26th, 2023.

Matazu emphasized that climate variability is the primary factor influencing this phenomenon, leading to the modulation of natural atmospheric processes. Short-term fluctuations in weather conditions are attributed to both natural and anthropogenic impacts on global atmospheric processes, with changes in weather and climate patterns not limited to Nigeria alone, according to the statement.

The release also highlighted the role of human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation, in increasing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere. This heightened greenhouse effect is a significant contributor to changes in the Earth’s climate, commonly known as climate change.

NiMet assured the public that it remains vigilant in observing, monitoring, predicting, and reporting weather and climate information across its entire social media platform, including its official website. The agency emphasized that the weather on the mentioned days was accurately forecasted and well-documented.

Matazu clarified, “However, this is not a change in the season as predicted; rather, these are fluctuations based on temporary weather modulators.” NiMet pledged to continue providing necessary weather updates to keep the public informed about any developments.