Dusty harmattan condition to end in March, expert
The adverse dusty harmattan condition prevailing in the country will fade out by early March, this year.
The Deputy General Manager, Weather Forecast Service, Nigerian Metrological Agency, Mr Ikanyi Nmodu, made the observation to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja.
He said that the dusty harmattan condition was a direct result of the movement of the Intercontinental Discontinuation Line to the Atlantic Ocean, allowing the dusty wind from the Sahara and Western Europe cold wind to reach the country.
He said the dusty condition which peaked in January would fade out in early March with different effect on Nigerians depending on their locations.
Nmodu said that the condition would not have adverse effect on the return of the pilgrims to the country due to alternative airports to cater for the landing of such aircraft.
He said that the bigger aircraft being used for the hajj operations was capable of landing in low visibility conditions.
He said that the agency was issuing 72-hour weather condition bulletin to airline operators so that the operators could make alternative landing arrangement for their aircraft.
On the agency's annual weather forecast, Nmodu said it would be released at the end of the month to serve as a guide to farmers in their preparation for this year's farming season.
He enjoined farmers to adhere to the advise of the agency forecast in order to realise the desired harvest of their crops.
The annual harmattan weather is accompanied with dusty condition forcing the cancellations of flights.