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NIMET warns pilots of reduced visibility

By on April 4, 2015

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency on Thursday announced that dust particles would reduce visibility in the atmosphere in some parts of the country in the coming days.

It stated that this might not lead to severe flight disruptions but warned that residents, particularly in the northern part of the country, should be cautious of the weather in the region.

The agency, in a statement, said on Friday, March 27, 2015, it was observed that the high pressure system over the Sahara Desert began to strengthen from 1034hpa to 1038hpa as the mid-latitude trough passed over the area.

It noted that two days later, the value reached a very significant threshold of 1038hpa, resulting in very strong winds of 40 to 45Knots (72 to 80Km/h) over the region.

NIMET said, “This resulting strong wind over the desert raised a lot of dust particles from the source regions, which was subsequently transported by the dry north-easterly winds into the country. The already airborne dust particles affected the northern and the central states of the country on April 1, 2015, reducing visibility to as low as 200 metres in Maiduguri and 800 metres in Gombe.

“The observed high pressure cell over the source region is weakening but the winds are still very strong over the area. As expected, fresh dust plume was raised in the morning of April 2, 2015 as a result of the persistent strong winds. This new dust episode is expected to further reduce visibility in the north-eastern states.”

It gave the dust forecast on January 7, 2015 and informed the public of possibility of dust outbreak that would affect parts of the country up to the month of April 2015 when the north-easterly winds would still be dominant over the northern region.

It further stated that as the pressure system continued to weaken in the coming days, and the moisture laden south-westerly winds from the ocean continued to advance inland, the dust particles would begin to clear and the visibility would also improve progressively northwards in the coming days.

“This development will not affect flight operations adversely because the atmosphere (especially the south and central states) is already having enough moisture to cause the raised particles to fall off the atmosphere early, leading to improved visibility,” the agency added.

 

[Punch]