Heavy rains, floods to hit Malawi in two weeks

Malawi’s Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services has warned of high rainfall amounts which will eventually trigger flash floods.

The departnment warned that flooding in potential flood prone districts should be anticipated in the next two weeks.

Jolam Nkhokwe, Director of Climate Change and Meteorological Services has told Malawi News Agency (Mana) the trend is as a result of active Congo Air Mass coupled with a low pressure area in the Mozambique Channel.

“Malawi’s two main rain bearing systems which are the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and Congo air mass coupled with a low pressure area located in the Mozambique Channel remain active. This will consequently cause wide spread rainfall associated with high rainfall amounts.

“The high rainfall amounts cumulatively are expected to trigger flash floods and flooding in potential flood prone districts such as, Nsanje, Chikhwawa, Phalombe, Mangochi, Salima, Nkhata bay and Karonga,” warned Nkhokwe.

Nkhokwe further warned that during this period severe thunderstorms are expected and would be accompanied by strong winds and lighting because of the accumulation of heat energy in the atmosphere.

“The general public is, therefore, being advised to be indoors during periods of severe thunderstorms to avoid lighting strikes and should take caution when crossing swelling rivers,” cautioned Nkhokwe.

Meanwhile, the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services has said it is closely monitoring the behaviour of the low pressure area situated in the Mozambique Channel in terms of its intensification and movement to enable them issue appropriate advisories and warnings should it develop into a tropical storm.

—Reporting by Yamikani Yapuwa