IITA releases data on disastrous Nigeria rainfall

The downpour which led to severe flooding in Ibadan, South West, Nigeria  on August 26 wreaking havoc across the city is the highest in more than five decades, according to data recorded at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).

The more than six-hour rain led to flooding that took many lives, destroyed property and damaged key infrastructure such as bridges, roads and electric poles.

According to IITA data rainfall on that day hit an all-time high of 187.50 mm accompanied by wind gusts reaching 65 kilometres/hour. The previous highest recorded rainfall was 178.30 mm in September 1987.

10 highest rainfall days in Ibadan

 The August 26 rains started at 16:40H and continued until 20:00H, with intermittent drizzling until 23:00H. Rainfall was most intense between 18:10H and19:20H when 75% of the rain fell.

According to IITA’s weather data, the average daily rainfall in August 2010 was 8.9 mm considering all days, and 25mm considering only the rainy days. Maximum daily rainfall for August 2010 was 62 mm.

Several experts regard occurrence as the impact of climate change as predicted in the 2006 global climate change assessment report prepared by the international scientific community under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

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Posted by AfricaSTI on September 11, 2011. Filed under Environment, Nigeria. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry