NIGERIAN METEOROLOGICAL AGENCY
33 POPE JOHN PAUL II STREET, MAITAMA DISTRICT,
P.M.B. 615, GARKI, ABUJA, NIGERIA
Agrometeorological Bulletin No.15, Dekad 3, May (21 – 31) 2012
SUMMARY
During the period under review, surplus rainfall anomalies were recorded across the country except for
Gombe, Lafia, Ibi, Ado-Ekiti, Ikeja, Asaba, Umuahia and Port-Harcourt which had deficits. The
country recorded light to moderate rains with occasional heavy thunderstorms. Decadal rainfall totals of
100mm and above were recorded in parts of the south and with few stations in the north central like
Bauchi, Jos, Kaduna, Zaria and Minna. Stations at Maiduguri, Gombe and Ado-Ekiti had deficit soil
moisture conditions while virtually other parts of the country had surplus soil moisture indices. Warmer
than normal temperatures continued to be experienced over the north especially the north-east areas
like Kano, Nguru, Potiskum and Maiduguri while Jos and Eket remained colder. Temperatures below
32 Deg C were recorded in all parts of the south and most north central while elsewhere was above 32
Deg C. However, no part of the country recorded temperatures above 38 Deg C as the soaring
temperatures were lowered by the rains. The rainfall in parts of the extreme north was signals of onset
of growing season, hence farmers in these areas are advised to prepare for planting.
1.0 RAINFALL TREND
1.1 Rainfall Anomaly
The rainfall amount received across the country is shown
in fig 2 and reveals that some parts of the south and parts
of Bauchi, Jos, Kaduna, Minna and Zaria recorded over
100mm of rains. Most parts of the north reported over
30mm of rainfall. Farmers in the extreme north are
advised to commence land preparations and get ready for
planting as the onset is about to commence.
KAT
SOK
GUS
12
MAI
POT
ZAR
KAD
YEL
BID
MIN
ABU
LOK
OGJ
OBU
IKO
OWE
UMU
UYO
CAL
PHC
EKT
ENU
ASA
AWK
2
2
4
6
-140
-100
-60
LEGEND SURPLUS
-20
Normal defined by tolerance
of ± 20% departure
20
220
180
WAR
4
YOL
60
6
GOM
LAF
IBI
MAK
140
SHK ILO
ISE OSG
IBA
Ado
AKU
ABE
OND
IJE
IKE
OSD
BEN
8
BAU
JOS
100
10
LAT. (N)
NGU
KAN
NORMAL DEFICIT
8
10
12
14
LONG. (E)
FIG. 1: 3rd DECADE OF MAY 2012 RAINFALL ANOMALIES (%)
OVER THE COUNTRY. ANOMALIES ARE COMPUTED WITH
RESPECT TO THE 1971 - 2000 BASE PERIOD DECADAL MEANS.
Fig 1 above shows the rainfall anomaly during the dekad
and indicates that most parts of the south and the extreme
north had surpluses (green areas) while Gombe, Lafia, Ibi,
Ado-Ekiti, Ikeja, Asaba, Umuahia and Port-Harcourt had
deficit rainfall anomalies. Elsewhere was normal.
1.2 Rainfall Amounts
1.3 COMPARISON OF NORMAL
RAINFALL FOR THE DEKAD
WITH
200
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
ACTUAL
20
NORMAL
KAN
BAU
BID
MIN
ABU
SHK ILO
ISE OSG
IBA
Ado
AKU
ABE
OND
IJE
IKE
OSD
BEN
LOK
RAINFALL (MM)
0
10
30
NGURU
POTISKUM
KANO
ZARIA
YELWA
KADUNA
GUSAU
KATSINA
YOLA
SOKOTO
GOMBE
MAIDUG
LAFIA
BAUCHI
MINNA
ABUJA
JOS
BIDA
60
40
ACTUAL
20
8
10
12
NORMAL
14
LONG. (E)
FIG. 2: ACTUAL RAINFALL AMOUNT FOR DEKAD 3, MAY 2012
sh
od
i
A Ike
be ja
ok
u
Ib ta
ad
a
S n
ha
k
Ije Ise i
bu yin
-O
de
A
ku
r
O e
O nd
sh o
o
A gb
do o
U Eki
si ti
-E
k
B iti
en
A in
sa
b
A a
w
E ka
nu
O gu
w
er
W ri
a
O rri
go
ja
P E ke
or t
th
C arc
al
U ab
m ar
ua
hi
a
U
yo
Ik
o
O m
bu
du
6
0
O
4
80
RAINFALL AMOUNT (mm)
2
2
100
OWE
UMU
UYO
CAL
PHC
EKT
50
LEGEND
140
OGJ
OBU
IKO
70
170
WAR
4
160
120
ENU
ASA
AWK
130
6
180
YOL
LAF
IBI
MAK
150
8
GOM
JOS
100
10
FIG. 3A: COMPARISON OF NORMAL WITH OBSERVED RAINFALLOF DEKAD 3, MAY 2012:
FOR NORTHERN AND CENTRAL STATES OF NIGERIA
MAI
POT
ZAR
KAD
YEL
LAT. (N)
NGU
GUS
LOKOJA
KAT
SOK
IBI
14
ILORIN
MAKURDI
0
12
ACTUAL
The comparison of the actual rainfall amount with normal
rainfall values in some selected stations across the south
and north is shown in Figs 3A & B respectively. Both
figures reveal that most stations had above normal
rainfall.
RAINFALL VALUES(mm)
14
FIG. 3B: COMPARISON OF NORMAL WITH OBSERVED RAINFALL OF DEKAD 3, OF MAY 2012 :
SOUTHERN STATES OF NIGERIA
1.4 Number of Rain Days
14
KAT
SOK
GUS
12
WAR
LEGEND
2
4
-2
NORMAL COLDER
WARMER
6
8
10
12
14
FIG. 6: 3rd DEKAD OF MAY 2012 MEAN MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE
ANOMALIES (Deg. C) OVER THE COUNTRY. ANOMALIES ARE COMPUTED
WITH RESPECT TO THE 1971 - 2000 BASE PERIOD DECADAL MEANS.
0
2
LONG. (E)
8
10
2
-2.5
Normal defined by the tolerance
of ± 1.0 Deg. Celsius departure
-1.5
4
OWE
UMU
UYO
PHC CAL
EKT
4
OGJ
OBU
IKO
OWE
UMU
UYO
CAL
PHC
EKT
ENU
ASA
AWK
WAR
OGJ
OBU
IKO
ENU
ASA
AWK
YOL
LAF
IBI
MAK
LOK
LAF
IBI
MAK
LOK
4
6
6
YOL
6
SHK ILO
ISE OSG
IBA
Ado
AKU
ABE
OND
IJE
IKE
OSD
BEN
8
GOM
JOS
GOM
JOS
-1
BAU
BID
MIN
ABU
SHK ILO
ISE OSG
IBA
Ado
AKU
ABE
OND
IJE
IKE
OSD
BEN
8
2.5
YEL
BAU
BID
MIN
ABU
1
POT
ZAR
KAD
LAT. (N)
10
MAI
1.5
NGU
KAN
2
KAT
GUS
10
LAT. (N)
ZAR
KAD
YEL
SOK
MAI
POT
14
12
NGU
KAN
LEGEND NUMBER OF RAIN DAYS
2
12
14
FIG. 4: ACTUAL NUMBER OF RAIN DAYS FOR DEKAD 3, MAY 2012
The number of rain days across the country is shown
in Fig 4 and reveals that most stations had more than
3 rain days and the distribution favoured optimal crop
growth and development. In the Niger delta area,
most stations had above 7 rain days while Benin had
10 rain days. The dekad witnessed good rainfall
distribution.
3.2 Maximum Temperature Values
Fig 7 below depicts the mean maximum temperature
distribution. It shows that the extreme northern parts of
the country had temperatures above 35 C (Sokoto, Kano,
Potiskum and Maiduguri). Areas in and around Jos, south
and most of the north central had temperature below 32
deg. C (blue area) which favoured field crops.
o
14
KAT
SOK
GUS
12
POT
ZAR
KAD
YEL
10
KAT
GUS
BID
MIN
ABU
2
4
6
8
BAU
MAI
GOM
JOS
YOL
LAF
IBI
MAK
LOK
OGJ
OBU
IKO
OWE
UMU
UYO
CAL
PHC
EKT
ENU
ASA
AWK
38
LEGEND
-60
OWE
UMU
UYO
CAL
PHC
EKT
LEGEND SURPLUS
2
2
By definition, the area between
± 20% is under Neutral / Normal
soil moisture condition
-20
220
4
ENU
ASA
AWK
4
OGJ
OBU
IKO
20
WAR
WAR
YOL
LOK
60
6
6
GOM
LAF
IBI
MAK
100
OSG
IBA
Ado
AKU
ABE
OND
IJE
IKE
OSD
BEN
140
8
8
JOS
ILO
180
SHK
ISE
BAU
BID
MIN
ABU
SHK ILO
ISE OSG
IBA
Ado
AKU
ABE
OND
IJE
IKE
OSD
BEN
MAI
POT
10
LAT. (N)
KAN
ZAR
KAD
YEL
-140
12
NGU
-100
SOK
LAT. (N)
14
NGU
KAN
36
2.0 SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION
26
10
28
8
LONG. (E)
30
6
32
4
34
2
MEAN MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE (Deg. C)
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
LONG. (E)
FIG. 7: MEAN MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE FOR DEKAD 3, MAY 2012
NEUTRAL DEFICIT
10
12
14
LONG. (E)
FIG. 5: 3rd DEKAD OF MAY 2012 SOIL MOISTURE INDICES (%)
OVER THE COUNTRY.
The decadal distribution of soil moisture is shown in fig.
5. It can be seen that Maiduguri, Gombe and Ado-Ekiti
had deficit soil moisture indices while virtually other parts
of the country had surplus soil moisture indices. Other
areas were normal.
3.0 MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE TREND
3.1 Maximum Temperature Anomaly
The mean maximum temperature anomaly is shown in fig
6. It reveals that the extreme northern parts of the country
had warmer (red) than normal temperatures while areas in
and around Jos and Shaki experienced colder (blue) than
normal temperatures. Elsewhere comprising most parts of
the country was normal.
4.0 WEATHER/AGRICULTURAL OUTLOOK FOR
DEKAD 1 (1 TO 10), OF JUNE 2012
4.1 Weather Outlook
The ITD position is still expected to move far above the
country which makes the extreme North to experience
cloudy weather conditions. The Central part of the
country is expected to have cloudy weather with localised
thunderstorm activities.
The Inland and coastal parts of the country are expected
to be cloudy with rains / thundery activities during the
period.
The expected mean maximum temperature for the
extreme Northern part of the country ranges between 33
and 35 deg C while the mean minimum temperature will
range from 25 to 27 deg C.
The expected mean maximum temperature for Central
part of the country ranges between 30 and 31 deg C while
NIGERIAN METEOROLOGICAL AGENCY (NIMET)
AGROMETEOROLOGICAL BULLETIN NO. 15, DEKAD 3, MAY (21-31) 2012
Page 2
the mean minimum temperature will range from 23 to 25
deg C.
For Inland and coastal areas of the country, maximum
temperature will range from 29 to 32 deg C., while mean
minimum temperature will be between 22 and 25 deg C
during the period.
4.2 Agricultural
Activity/Outlook
Planting of staple food crops continued in parts of the
north central while in the extreme north, clearing of
farmlands in preparation of planting is in progress. In
parts of the south and north central, harvest of maize is in
progress while vegetables planted on irrigated farms in
the north is also in progress
Farmers in the extreme north are advised to prepare their
farms in readiness for planting of new crops as the onset
of rains for rainfed farming is expected to commence
soon.
TABLE OF AGROMETEOROLOGICAL DATA FOR THE DEKAD
RAINFALL
RAINDAY
PET
TMAX
TMIN
DD
123.5
6
48.1
31.0
20.5
195.8
18.7
ABEOK
79.7
5
43.2
32.2
24.6
224.3
16
NGURU
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
ABUJA
86.8
8
43.2
30.3
21.9
199.4
16.7
OGOJA
107.6
7
48.7
32.4
22.5
214
18.4
AKURE
17.7
2
45.7
31.2
22.1
205.4
17.5
ONDO
84.8
6
42.5
31.0
23.3
210.9
16.1
ASABA
31.5
4
47.5
32.4
23.1
217.3
17.8
OSHODI
33.6
5
40.9
31.4
24.4
218.8
15.3
AWKA
111.1
6
46.7
31.7
22.5
210.3
17.8
OSOGBO
74.7
5
40.9
30.0
22.6
201.5
15.7
121
2
51.7
34.9
24.3
238
18.8
OWERRI
158.7
7
44.4
30.6
22.0
201.7
17.1
146.3
10
42.7
31.2
23.5
213.2
16.2
PHC
81.8
6
46
31.7
22.9
212.3
17.4
97.3
6
40.6
30.8
23.7
211.5
15.4
POT
72
3
57
37.3
24.7
253.2
20.2
136.7
8
42.8
31.0
23.3
210.8
16.2
SHAKI
43.1
5
42.4
29.5
21.3
191.1
16.6
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
SOKOTO
54.4
5
51.6
36.5
26.3
257.7
18.2
ENUGU
129.8
7
48.9
31.6
21.2
202.7
18.8
UMUAHIA
38.3
6
44.5
31.0
22.6
206.7
17
GOMBE
3.2
2
48.8
33.9
24.2
231.4
17.9
UYO
36.5
7
41.1
30.6
23.4
208.9
15.7
GUSAU
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
WARRI
105.4
7
43.4
31.6
23.7
216.3
16.3
IBADAN
116.8
6
40.5
30.4
23.2
206.8
15.5
YELWA
87.7
6
45
32.2
23.6
201.1
16.8
IJEBU
45.1
4
42.6
31.0
23.1
209.1
16.2
YOLA
40.7
4
48.7
34.7
25.5
243.3
17.6
IKEJA
84.3
6
39.2
30.9
24.2
214.6
14.7
ZARIA
164.9
7
47.9
30.9
20.4
194.7
18.7
IKOM
96.2
9
46.1
31.6
22.6
210.3
17.5
OBUDU
102.9
8
44.9
30.8
22.1
202.8
17.3
ILORIN
88.7
6
41.6
30.3
22.4
201.6
16
4
51.3
32.5
21.2
207.6
19.6
112.3
7
42.1
30.1
22.2
199.6
16.3
IBI
ADOEKITI
27.2
ISEYIN
37.8
5
42.1
30.0
21.9
197.5
16.3
JOS
100.2
5
41.9
26.9
17.7
157.4
17.4
USI-EKITI
57.7
3
-
-
-
-
KADUNA
173
7
47
31.0
20.9
197.3
18.3
CALARMA
69.6
8
23.7
207.4
14.5
KANO
57.4
2
57.6
37.3
24.5
252.1
20.5
KATSINA
45.8
4
49.4
35.0
25.3
243.5
17.8
LAFIA
39.7
2
46.6
33.1
24.3
227.2
17.2
LOKOJA
94.4
3
44
32.3
24.3
223.2
16.4
MAIDU
31.5
3
54.7
37.7
26.4
264.4
19.1
MAKURDI
73.9
5
48.5
31.5
21.2
201.8
18.7
STATION
BAUCHI
BENIN
BIDA
CALABAR
EKET
RAD
MINNA
38
30.0
Dear All,
Comments and suggestions on how to improve this publication are welcome. Agrometeorologists, Agriculturists, Extension
Workers, Research Officers, Users and the General Public should kindly send feedback to:
The Director-General/CEO,
Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET),
33 Pope John Paul II Street, Maitama District,
PMB 615 Garki, Abuja.
E-mail: nimetagrometbulletin@yahoo.com; NIMET WEB SITE: www.nimetng.org
NIGERIAN METEOROLOGICAL AGENCY (NIMET)
AGROMETEOROLOGICAL BULLETIN NO. 15, DEKAD 3, MAY (21-31) 2012
Page 3