The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) has forecasted heavy rainfall, which could lead to flash floods, in coastal cities between May and June 2025.
This announcement was made by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, during the presentation of the 2025 annual climate prediction in Abuja.
Keyamo also noted that the rainy season is expected to be delayed in northern and central states such as Plateau, parts of Kaduna, Niger, Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba, Adamawa, and Kwara.
In contrast, southern states including Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Anambra, and portions of Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Lagos, Edo, Enugu, Imo, and Ebonyi are expected to experience an early onset of rain. The rest of the country is forecasted to have a typical rainy season start.
Additionally, a shorter-than-usual rainy season is predicted for 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 the season is expected over parts of Kaduna, Nasarawa, Benue, Lagos, Kwara, Taraba, Oyo, Ogun, Cross River, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Anambra, and Enugu states.
Further more, temperatures are expected to be generally above the long-term average across the country. 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.
However, April day and nighttime temperatures are predicted to be generally cooler than normal, while warmer than normal temperatures are likely over most of the northern states.
While concluding his presentation, Keyamo advised persons engaged in rainfed agriculture and other rainfall dependant activities to refer to the predicted onset dates in the Seasonal Climate Change document or consult the Nigerian Meteorological Agency for details.
