Weather: Nigeria

Africa's most populous nation, Nigeria has a climate regime similar to that of the Guinea-coast nations to its west, as the ITCZ brings wet weather northward from March to May and southward from October to December. Only the extreme north is semi-arid in classic Sahel style, while parts of the lower Niger delta are drenched with more than 3000mm/118in of rain each year. The Lagos area is the least sodden stretch of coastline, though its humidity – and the heat radiating from urban sprawl – help maintain a sticky atmosphere year round. The immediate coast experiences a major dry period in winter with heaviest rains in late spring and early summer, followed by a brief dry spell around August and a second pulse of rain into October. Harmattan dust storms are a perennial winter problem, especially toward the north.