The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has forecast three days of cloudy weather, thunderstorms and moderate rainfall across several parts of the country from Wednesday to Friday, warning residents to take precautions against strong winds and heavy downpours.

In its weather outlook issued in Abuja on Wednesday, the agency said patches of clouds would dominate the northern region on Wednesday morning, with thunderstorms and moderate rainfall expected over parts of Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Kano, Zamfara, Gombe, Bauchi, Taraba and Adamawa states.

Later in the day, thunderstorms accompanied by moderate rainfall are expected over parts of Kaduna State and across the North-East.

For the North-Central region, NiMet predicted cloudy conditions with morning thunderstorms and light rains over parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Plateau and Nasarawa states.

By the afternoon and evening, moderate rainfall is expected over parts of Benue, Kogi, the FCT, Kwara, Niger, Nasarawa and Plateau states.

In the South, cloudy skies are expected throughout Wednesday, with light morning rains forecast for parts of the South-South, while moderate rainfall is expected later in the day over parts of Ondo, Ekiti, Oyo, the South-East and the South-South.

On Thursday, NiMet forecast thunderstorms and moderate rainfall over parts of Zamfara, Kebbi, Katsina, Kano, Kaduna, Taraba, Adamawa, Bauchi and Gombe states in the morning, with most parts of the northern region expected to experience thunderstorms and moderate rainfall later in the day.

The agency also predicted widespread thunderstorms across the North-Central region throughout Thursday, while moderate rainfall is expected over Ondo State and the South-South in the morning before extending to the South-East later in the day.

For Friday, NiMet said morning thunderstorms with rainfall are expected over parts of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Taraba states, while moderate rainfall is forecast across much of the northern region later in the day.

The North-Central region is expected to experience cloudy conditions, with light morning rains over Nasarawa and Benue states and more widespread thunderstorms and moderate rainfall by afternoon and evening.

Cloudy skies are also expected across the South, with light morning rains over the South-South and moderate rainfall later in the day across parts of Ondo, Oyo, Enugu, Imo, the South-East and the South-South.

NiMet warned that strong winds could precede thunderstorms in affected areas and urged residents to secure loose objects, avoid driving during heavy rainfall, disconnect electrical appliances during storms and stay away from tall trees to reduce the risk of injury from falling branches.

The agency also advised airline operators to obtain airport-specific weather reports from NiMet to support flight planning and urged the public to stay updated through its regular weather advisories.