The Lagos State Government has urged residents of the state to brace for heavy rainfall and flash flooding as the rainy season approaches.
The state Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this on Friday at a press briefing on the Seasonal Climate Prediction and its socio-economic implications for the state, held at the ministry’s conference room in Alausa.
Wahab said the Nigerian Meteorological Agency released the 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction on February 10, outlining the expected patterns of rainfall, temperature and other weather parameters across the country.
According to him, the annual briefing is organised by the state government as part of efforts to keep residents informed about important climate information and to prepare them for the possible impacts of the rainy season and other weather events.
Wahab noted that the forecast indicated an early to normal onset of the rainy season, a normal to late cessation, and normal to above-normal rainfall, with temperatures likely to be above normal in most parts of the state between March and May.
He added that the year 2026 was predicted to begin with a weak La Niña in January, while the neutral phase of ENSO was expected to persist during the first six to eight months of the year.
“This also implies an early onset of the rainy season, a longer-than-normal length and a delayed end of the rainy season in Lagos,” he said.
Wahab noted that above-normal rainfall amounts were expected during the first peak of the rainy season, while normal rainfall amounts were anticipated during the second peak.
He said the rainy season was expected to begin as early as the last week of March and end in the first week of December, with an average annual rainfall predicted to range between 1,650mm and 3,030mm.
Providing a further breakdown, the commissioner said the Ikeja Division was expected to record rainfall onset on March 31 and cessation on December 2, with an annual rainfall amount of about 1,932mm.
He added that the Badagry Division was projected to experience rainfall from March 28 to December 3.
