Date: 2017-03-15

The 2017 Seasonal Rainfall Prediction (SRP) by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) showed floods may occur in some states in the north and west even as a shorter length of rain is predicted in most part of the country.

The states where floods are likely to occur because their rainfall pattern will be above normal include, Sokoto, Zamfara, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun and Adamawa states.

The SRP released on Tuesday by the NiMet also showed that "the predicted rainfall amount is expected to be below normal in Yobe, Kano, Bauchi, Gombe, Kebbi, Plateau, Taraba, Benue, Kogi, Northern Cross River, Enugu, Imo, Abia and some coastal areas."

The rest of the other states are expected experience normal rainfall, the report indicated.

NiMet Director-General, Prof. Sani Abubakar Mashi said "NiMet predicts the earliest onset date to be February 25th over the coastal region of the Niger Delta. Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Kano, Kebbi, Kaduna, Plateau, Nasarawa, Taraba, Oyo, Ogun, Lagos, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers States are predicted to record early onset dates by about 3 to 7 days range from their 30year normal."

He said the early secession of the rain should occur October 4th 2017 across the exrreme north progressing to December 25th 2017 in the coastal areas.