Expect 270 days of intense downpour, Lagos warns residents

By MURITALA AYINLA

The Lagos State government Tuesday raised the alarm that residents might experience 240-270 days of intense rainfall, which might result into the rise of the sea level rise and flooding.

Hence, the government appealed to the residents to pay attention their drains and desist from indiscriminate waste dumping, saying that in spite of the downpour prediction, the state can effectively manage the challenge if everyone pays attention to their environment.

The state’s Commissioner for the Environment, Mr Tunji Bello, who revealed this during the 2020 seasonal rainfall prediction and prevention of flooding in Lagos State.

He said that the prediction was given by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), adding that there was need for the government to brief the public on the need to prepare for the rains and prevent avoidable disaster resulting from downpour.

Bello said: “As a result, rainfall prediction for Lagos this year is a normal rainfall amount. The earliest predicted onset of the rainy season is 17th of March with other areas following soon after, the rainy season is expected to cease earliest by 22 November in Surulere with other areas following.

“Ikeja is expected to have about l526mm, while that of Badagry is 1750mm, Lagos Island with 1714mm, lkorodu with l690mm and Epe with 1730mm.

“However, before the onset of the rainy season, a couple of rainfall events are expected to occur which could be enormous and tend to give a false start to the rainy season.

“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. It is also expected that Lagos Island will have about 252 days of rainfall and about 1714mm of rainfall over the year.

“It can be deduced that Lagos State shall experience a mi season of 240-270 days, while the Maximum Annual Rainfall predicted to be 1,750mm.” (New Telegraph)