Rainy Season: Prepare For Severe Air Turbulence, Nimet Warns Airlines

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency on Friday cautioned pilots to
be ready to manage severe turbulence as the onset of the rainy
season had commenced in many locations across the country.

It said adverse weather activities associated with the onset
period included high intensity storm within a short duration of
time, high turbulence that may damage properties, among others.

The Director-General, NiMet, Mansur Matazu, said at a press
briefing in Abuja that the season would be characterised by
electrical charges in the atmosphere that could cause
thunderstorms, adding that there would be series of microbursts
incidents at ariports.

“Microbursts are mini-thunderstorms that emanate from the cloud
because of the low temperature of the cloud,” Matazu stated.

He added, “These microbursts which happen around the airports
cause windshear problems and that is why we have an alert system by
which we issue alerts to pilots through the Air Traffic
Controllers.

“Now, the negative implications of these weather issues include
the fact that they cause severe turbulence during descent or at
certain flying levels.

“You can also experience clear air turbulence and it happens
during the onset period of the rainy season.”

Matazu noted that heavy rains during the season would make the
surface of airport runways wet leading to skidding, impaired
horizontal visibility as well as affect ground operations.

The NiMet boss stated that his agency had issued out special
alerts to airlines and other operators across all airports in
Nigeria and would continue to issue same as the rainy season sets
in fully.

He stated that the agency had been issuing weather updates to
Air Traffic Controllers at intervals of 30 minutes daily and that
the updates were relayed to pilots.

“We want pilots to be conscious of precautionary measures and
adhere to standard operating procedures to ensure safety in
aviation,” he said.

Matazu further enjoined airline operators to take weather
information very seriously and urged passengers to exercise
patience whenever delays or cancelations were made due to weather
concerns.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency on Friday cautioned pilots to
be ready to manage severe turbulence as the onset of the rainy
season had commenced in many locations across the country.

It said adverse weather activities associated with the onset
period included high intensity storm within a short duration of
time, high turbulence that may damage properties, among others.

The Director-General, NiMet, Mansur Matazu, said at a press
briefing in Abuja that the season would be characterised by
electrical charges in the atmosphere that could cause
thunderstorms, adding that there would be series of microbursts
incidents at ariports.

“Microbursts are mini-thunderstorms that emanate from the cloud
because of the low temperature of the cloud,” Matazu stated.

He added, “These microbursts which happen around the airports
cause windshear problems and that is why we have an alert system by
which we issue alerts to pilots through the Air Traffic
Controllers.

“Now, the negative implications of these weather issues include
the fact that they cause severe turbulence during descent or at
certain flying levels.

“You can also experience clear air turbulence and it happens
during the onset period of the rainy season.”

Matazu noted that heavy rains during the season would make the
surface of airport runways wet leading to skidding, impaired
horizontal visibility as well as affect ground operations.

The NiMet boss stated that his agency had issued out special
alerts to airlines and other operators across all airports in
Nigeria and would continue to issue same as the rainy season sets
in fully.

He stated that the agency had been issuing weather updates to
Air Traffic Controllers at intervals of 30 minutes daily and that
the updates were relayed to pilots.

“We want pilots to be conscious of precautionary measures and
adhere to standard operating procedures to ensure safety in
aviation,” he said.

Matazu further enjoined airline operators to take weather
information very seriously and urged passengers to exercise
patience whenever delays or cancelations were made due to weather
concerns.