The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), through its Central Forecast Office (CFO), has provided an explanation for the recent rainfall observed in the northern part of the country, especially in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Saturday, November 25 and Sunday, November 26, 2023.
NiMet noted that the occurrence seemed surprising to the public as, during this period, the north was expected to be transitioning into or have transitioned into the harmattan season characterised by dust, cold and winds.
The CFO of NiMet elaborated, stating that observations indicated an opening connecting the mid-latitude trough with the thermal lows over West Africa. This mid-latitude trough pulled the inter-tropical discontinuity (ITD) far northward above the country within a short period, leading to a significant influx of moisture, especially in the western half of the country. Normally, the ITD is expected to have a southward displacement during this season.
NiMet explained that with the influx of moisture and the existing high energy in the atmosphere, condensation and cloud formation were natural outcomes. The buildup of clouds over the northwestern and north-central parts of the country, including Abuja, resulted in thunderstorms experienced on Saturday and Sunday.
The agency attributed this phenomenon to climate variability, which modulates natural atmospheric processes and contributes to short-term weather fluctuations. It clarified that such variations are influenced by both natural and human activities affecting global atmospheric processes, leading to changes in weather and climate patterns.
Highlighting the impact of human activities, NiMet pointed out that the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation has increased greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere, contributing to the enhanced greenhouse effect and climate change.
NiMet emphasised that the recent weather fluctuations are not indicative of a change in the season, as predicted, but rather temporary variations based on weather modulators. The agency assured the public of its commitment to providing timely updates on weather conditions through various media platforms and affirmed its dedication to monitoring and reporting accurate weather and climate information.
