Weather experts warn of flash floods

Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services has warned of flash floods in some areas in the country as heavy rains are expected to continue due to easterly winds.

In its weather bulletin released yesterday, the department said heavy rain with thunderstorms is expected over Salima, Nkhata Bay, Machinga, Mangochi, Zomba, Nkhotakota, Lilongwe, Kasungu and Ntchisi districts.

“The persistence rainfall is expected in the next 10 days, with lakeshore areas getting the highest share,” reads the bulletin.

The warning has come when Malawi is reeling under the impact of Tropical Cyclone Freddy which has left 507 dead, 537 missing and displaced over 500 000 in the Southern Region.

Meanwhile, Zomba on Tuesday night received heavy rains that caused flooding around University of Malawi campus, formerly Chancellor College, Mpunga and New Road townships, among other areas in the municipality.

In an interview yesterday, the department’s director general Lucy Mtilatila said the heavy rains that Zomba received were normal, although they are coming when the water table is high in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Freddy which dumped six-month of rain in three days.

However, she said the rains are not an extension of Cyclone Freddy.

Mtilatila said: “Currently, there is no other cyclone in the Indian Ocean and chances of one developing near the Mozambican coast in the next two weeks is small.”

She said the heavy rains Malawi is receiving are a result of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone combined with easterly waves.

“The only problem is that the continuous rainfall can destroy weak structures, among other damages,” said Mtilatila.

—Additional reporting by HOLYCE KHOLOWA, Contributor