Lagos to experience 260 days of rainfall

The Lagos State Government Tuesday said the 2015 seasonal rainfall prediction showed that the state would experience 260 days of rainfall this year with the maximum annual rainfall pegged at 1,824mm.

The Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello, disclosed this at a news conference he addressed at Alausa, explaining that this maximum rainfall would be experienced within and around Marina area of Lagos Island.

According to Bello, it had been predicted that Lagos State would experience a rainy season of between 245 and 260 days, with the maximum annual rainfall predicted to be around 1,824mm.

He added that in general, this year’s rainfall has been predicted to have a delayed onset of about 2-13 days, with Lagos, Ondo, Ogun and some other states expected to have more pronounced delay in onset by 8-13 days.

“An early cessation of rainfall is predicted for most parts of the country. However, Abeokuta, Ibadan, Ondo, Akure, among others are predicted to have later than normal cessation as they would experience more growing season.

“In Lagos, onset dates range between March 26 and April 2, while the season’s end is predicted to range between 3 and 11 December, 2015. NIMET’s day and night temperature derivations in the month of March shows that the northern part of the country is expected to be colder during the day while the south will be warmer.”

He said it was equally predicted that the southern states would be warmer than normal at night, saying, however, that Lagos Island and its immediate environs would be colder than normal.

“Warmer than normal day and night temperature are predicted for most parts of the country in the month of April. The little dry season is predicted to occur between 15 July and 31 August, 2015 in most part of the country. However, in comparison to August 2014, this year is expected and predicted to be drier.”

Bello explained that among the new ways of improving the content of the 2015 prediction was the malaria forecast, which predicted warmer than normal and high humidity at different times across the country.

He said this high temperature and humidity were favourable conditions for the growth of pest, vectors which spread diseases, saying that the higher the temperature and humidity, the more rapid the life cycles of mosquitoes and frequencies in mosquitoes bites, urging the public to be well prepared.

“Lagos State is expected to be moderately affected by mosquitoes, nevertheless, it is of utmost importance that Lagosians to keep their environment clean to minimise the effects of mosquitoes.”

He warned Lagosians against indiscriminate dumping of refuse in unauthorised places and urged them to ensure daily cleaning and evacuation of silted drains around homes and premises, urging Lagosians to report cases of drainage blockages, dumping of refuse into canals and other unauthorised places to the government for prompt action.

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