In Nigeria, we experience three main types of weather throughout the year: the dry season, the rainy season, and the harmattan. Each of them has its own unique characteristics, but if I’m being honest, I don’t like all of them equally. Some are bearable, some are even enjoyable, but others are just straight-up frustrating. Right now, we are deep in the dry season, and I have to say—it’s my least favorite time of the year.
For months now, it hasn’t rained, and everything feels extremely dry. The sun is unforgiving, and stepping outside in the afternoon always seem very difficult. The heat is also unbearable, making it difficult to enjoy any outdoor activity. Even inside the house, unless there’s a fan or air conditioning, the heat still finds a way to make life uncomfortable.
Apart from personal discomfort, the dry season is also tough on farmers. Since there’s no rain, they have to rely on irrigation just to keep their crops alive. This makes farming more stressful and expensive because water is not always readily available. There is also the accumulation of dirts on untarred roads and that normally settle on surfaces like vehicles, houses, and even people passing by. If a person is riding on a bike (okada) during the dry season, their clothes can easily get covered in dust.
Now, harmattan is a different kind of dry season, and it usually comes around December. What makes harmattan interesting is the temperature difference throughout the day. Mornings and evenings are usually cold, but by afternoon, the heat starts creeping in but it is not usually as hot as the dry season. The air is usually dry, and everything gets so dusty. Last year, when I was at home, we had to keep all the windows closed because the dust was just too much. If you left your furniture unwiped for a day, you’d just come back to find a thin layer of dust sitting on it. Also, it was always very cold during the midnight that i couldn't sleep without covering my body with very thick clothes. But even with this, I still prefer harmattan over the regular dry season because at least it’s not hot all the time.
Out of all three, the rainy season is my absolute favorite. Everything about it makes life better. First of all, it cools down the environment, making everywhere feel fresh and comfortable. I especially love the cool breeze that comes before a heavy rain—it’s one of the most relaxing feelings ever and as someone who sweats easily, the rainy season is a relief because I don’t have to constantly deal with the discomfort of sweating.
From an agricultural perspective, the rainy season is a blessing. Back in school, whenever we had planting projects, we didn’t have to stress about watering our crops every day because the rain did most of the work for us. This made farming so much easier and saved a lot of time and energy. Farmers, in general, are also happier during this season because their crops can grow better, and they don’t have to worry much about irrigation.
Of course, the rainy season isn’t perfect. Sometimes, it rains too much, and that can cause problems like flooding, especially in places like Lagos. Another downside is that excessive rainfall can wash away the topsoil, making it harder for crops to get enough nutrients. But despite these disadvantages, I still find the rainy season the most enjoyable.
At the end of the day, no weather is perfect, but if I could have things my way, I’d choose a world where it rains just enough to keep the environment cool and fresh without causing any flooding. But since that’s not possible, I’ll just keep looking forward to the rainy season every year—it’s the one time of the year when everything just feels right.
Posted Using INLEO
