The Lagos State Government on Tuesday alerted residents of the state of an impending near normal rainfall of between 240 to 270 days this year.
Commissioner for the Environment, Tunji Bello, at a news conference on the 2020 Seasonal Rainfall Predictions and prevention of flooding in the State in Alausa, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, stated that the maximum annual rainfall was predicted to be 1,750mm.
Bello said the earliest predicted onset of the rainy season was 17th March with other areas following, adding that the rainy season was expected to cease earliest by 22 November in Surulere with other areas following after.
The commissioner added that Ikeja was expected to have about 1526mm, while that of Badagry was 1750mm, Lagos Island with 1714mm, Ikorodu with 1690mm and Epe with 1730mm of rainfall.
Bello disclosed that the report which was obtained from the Nigerian Meteorological services (NIMET) indicated further that Lagos Island was expected to have a rainfall onset date of 19th March with an error margin of three days, while its cessation date is expected to be 26th of November.
He said this year’s prediction by NIMET was based on the global consensus that El-Nino Southern Oscillationb (ENSO) was at the neutral phase which would continue till around August or September.
“It is also expected that Lagos Island will have about 252 days of rainfall with about 1714mm of rainfall through the year,” he said.
Bello disclosed that the predictions of the Agency were valuable as vital weather and early warning tools for planners, decision makers and operators of the various sectors and businesses that might be impacted by the annual rainfall, if not well managed.
