The Nigerian Meteorology Agency (NIMET) has warned airlines of harmattan haze sweeping across the country.

The agency said the adverse weather condition will compel airlines to delay or cancel scheduled flights whenever horizontal visibility falls below the stipulated minima.

The agency on October 2016 issued an advisory forecast for dust outbreaks to affect the country during the December to February dry season period.

The Director-General of NIMET, Dr. Anthony Anuforom, said occasional outbreak of dust will reduce horizontal visibility significantly to 1000m and below in some places.

He also stated that the expected increase in concentration of the dust particles will lead to colder and drier atmosphere as well as increase in incidences of respiratory disorder.

In the course of monitoring the weather situation in and outside Nigeria, he said NiMet has observed that in the past 24hours, dust has been raised over the source regions in Niger/Chad Republic which will be transported by northeast trade winds into and across the country.

He noted that visibility as low as 100m were reported by some stations in the Niger republic.

His words: “Current reports of visibility values across the country are good. However, deterioration is expected to set in beginning from areas in the far northern parts of the country over the next twenty four to forty-eight hours.”

There is prospect of fresh dust plumes being raised in the coming days, with its attendant consequence.

“NiMet will, however, continue to monitor the weather and climate conditions as they unfold and provide regular updates and advisories to the general public,” he added.