Met forecasts heavy rains this week

The Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services (Met) has predicted that most parts of the country are expected to experience rainfall from this week.

Met, in its weekly weather statement dated October 15 2023, observed that the rainfall will be locally heavy and accompanied with thunderstorms, mostly in the country’s Southern and Central regions.

The department has attributed the weather condition to the merging of warm and moist unstable air mass and southeasterly air mass over Malawi.

Reads the statement in part: “Caution is advised from Tuesday [today] into Thursday as these rains are expected to be heavy exceeding 70 millilitres in some places such as Mulanje, Thyolo, Blantyre, Mchinji and Lilongwe districts.

“There is also the high risk of gusty winds and lightning during thunderstorms. Isolated rain and thunderstorms will thereafter continue from Thursday until the end of the forecast period [October 22 2023].”

Met has since advised the general public to stay indoors during thunderstorms and avoid seeking shelter under tall trees.

“It is important to inspect the strength of the house roofs to make sure that they can withstand strong winds,” advises the department.

Last week, agricultural experts asked some farmers in the Southern Region to plant early and use fast-maturing maize varieties.

The advice follows a weather report by Met which earlier forecasts below to normal rainfall in November, particularly in the Southern and Northern regions.

A weather report published in April this year shows that Malawi is among 53 countries expected to experience El- Niño-induced dry weather this crop growing season.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe are forecast to be the most affected as the conditions will impact cereal production.

The report titled ‘El Niño to return in 2023, following a three-year La Niña phase’ was prepared by the Global Information and Early Warning System under Food and Agriculture Organisation.

Reads the report in part: “In addition, several countries in these regions are currently suffering from economic instability, due to low economic growth, unsustainable debt levels and foreign exchange shortages, which have contributed to high inflation rates.

“In the event of a production shock, this economic instability could pose challenges for countries to increase needed imports.”