Beware of gusty winds preceding thunderstorms and rainfall – Ghana Meteo warns
The Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) has warned about thunderstorms and varying-intensity rains expected to impact the country’s southern half.
The agency cautioned that gusty winds will precede the thunderstorms and rainfall.
It said that these weather systems will drift westwards and northwards respectively, leading to the formation of thunderstorms and heavy rainfall over the southern half of Ghana.
In a notice released on Saturday, May 11, the agency indicated that these weather conditions are attributed to a rainstorm currently situated over the borders of Togo and Benin and a separate rainstorm observed over the Gulf of Guinea.
The areas anticipated to experience high impact include Hohoe, Kpando, Keta, Aflao, Dodge, Koforidua, Kpong, Mafi Kumase, and their environs.
Accra, Tema, Dodowa, Madina, Pokuase, Kasoa, Haatso, and neighbouring areas are expected to be moderately affected.
Meanwhile, Kumasi, Mankesim, Cape Coast, Saltpond, Takoradi, Tarkwa, Obuasi, and their surroundings are likely to experience minimal impact from the weather conditions.
This notice precedes an earlier precaution from (GMet) advising the public to brace themselves for more rainfall, particularly in Southern Ghana.
It followed torrential rainfall in parts of Accra on May 6.
According to the Head of Central Analysis and Forecast at GMet, Felicity Ahafianyo, this pattern could become an everyday occurrence for the next few months.
“We should be expecting every day or every other day, we will be experiencing rains in the southern sector. For the northern sector, they are not preparing for their rain storm so once in a while they will get rain which is likely to be moderate or severe and will come with strong wind that is likely to bring destruction, ripping off roofing sheets and possibly taking down tree branches.
“So, for us in the southern sector, we should put our minds at rest that between now till the end of June and July, we will be getting some rain, and most of the time, it will be accompanied by moderate windy conditions with lightning and thunderstorms,” she said.