Abuja – The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has warned on the effects of dry season or Harmattan in different parts of the country.
The warning is contained in the NiMet’s weather update, released by its Head of Corporate Communication, Mrs Eva Azinge, on Tuesday in Abuja.
NiMet said dry would usher in hot and dry conditions during afternoons and cold nights, especially in the northern part of the country.
This it said would be with a general increase in temperature across most parts of the country.
The effect of the increase in temperatures according to NiMet will result in deterioration in human comfort.
“The citizenry, especially rural dwellers resident in north and central parts of the country, are advised to avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight and stay in cool and ventilated environment.
“This will prevent incidences of dehydration and meningitis epidemics.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560”]
“During this period, the prevailing meteorological conditions will be favourable for increase in the surface wind speed.”
NiMet stated that the 2015/2016 dry season (Harmattan) had commenced in the northern parts of the country, which had also extended into upper part of the middle belt.
The agency said that other parts of middle belt, especially the southern region, would continue to witness rains till late November.
It added that the southernmost coast would continue to experience rains till the third week of December.
NiMet predicted that dust particles were expected to be raised in Niger and Chad Republic desert areas and subsequently transported across the country by the North-East trade wind.
It added that the dry and dusty wind would progressively extend to the Southern part of the country.
According to NiMet, as the concentration of the dust particles increases, the atmosphere will get drier and incidences of respiratory disorder will become prevalent.
It also warned that dust outbreaks, which would occur during the season, would occasionally reduce horizontal visibility significantly with the attendant disruption of flight operations across the country.
“The impact of dust particle in the atmosphere in the south will include the occurrence of early morning and late evening mist/foggy conditions, which will further reduce horizontal visibility significantly.
“Road, rail and air transportation will be affected by this impairment to horizontal visibility and road users, particularly motorists are advised to use fog lamps during poor visibility.
“They are also advised to drive carefully and adhere strictly to road traffic rules at all times,” it said.
NiMet further advised those susceptible to respiratory tract infections and other health conditions have their condition aggravated by dust particles and should take precautionary measures to avoid prolonged exposure to dust.
It stressed that skin and eye irritations were also common occurrences during the season.
The agency said that the consequence of the dry atmosphere would also result in availability of dry biomass, adding that incidences of bush fires might occur frequently.
It further warned that deliberate act of ‘bush burning’ and careless dropping of cigarette stubs should be avoided to mitigate uncontrollable bush fire.
NiMet promised continued monitoring of the weather and climate conditions as they unfolded and would keep the general public informed regularly. (NAN)
