MET rules out cyclone threat

In what could be a big sigh of relief, the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services (MET) has said the low pressure system in the Mozambique Channel will not turn into a cyclone as previously forecast.

But the department warned yesterday of heavy rains resulting from the storm that could result in floods in some areas in the Southern Region.

In an update yesterday, MET said although the low pressure system would continue its northwest movement towards the Mozambican coast, its effect on Malawi had declined and there was a 20 percent chance the storm would reach the country.

Reads the statement: “Nevertheless, the system will continue its northwest movement towards the Mozambique coast and is projected to reach land near Beira by March 10 2024 evening as a low-pressure system.

“There is now only less than a 20 percent chance that the system will reach or move closer to the Malawi border. However, it is expected to bring increased rainfall to southern Malawi, starting from March 10 2024 evening, until Wednesday on March 13 2024, potentially leading to sporadic flash floods.”

The districts likely to be moderately affected include Mulanje, Phalombe, Chiradzulu, Thyolo, Blantyre, Mwanza, Nsanje, and Chikwawa, with Neno and Zomba districts likely to experience lesser impact.

The department further added that although the risk of cyclone has reduced, the public still needs to take precautionary measures and be on high alert, especially if in flood prone areas and avoid travelling during stormy weather.

In its weather update on Thursday, MET and Department of Water Resources under the Minister of Water and Sanitation warned that a tropical storm that was developing on the Mozambican coast would grow into a tropical storm by yesterday and there was a 60 percent chance of it reaching Malawi.

In an earlier interview, environmental rights activist Mathews Malata said there is a need to focus on risk reduction interventions that include tailor-made early warning systems, investments in anticipatory actions, improving settlement patterns and setting up resilient infrastructure.

Malawi was in March last year ravaged by Cyclone Freddy which affected about 2.3 million people, displaced 660 000, killed 679 while 530 were declared missing.