Tag Archives: Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services

Environment

Malawi pilots PRISM Drought Monitoring tool to strengthen climate resilience

Dorica Mtenje

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-In a significant stride toward enhancing climate resilience and disaster preparedness, Malawi’s Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services (DCCMS), under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change, has successfully piloted the Platform for Real-time Impact and Situation Monitoring (PRISM) tool in five drought-prone districts.

The pilot phase was conducted in Mangochi, Machinga, Zomba, Phalombe, and Nsanje—regions historically affected by severe weather shocks and food insecurity.

According to DCCMS officials, the PRISM tool integrates multiple data sources including satellite imagery, rainfall patterns, soil moisture levels, vegetation health indices, and socioeconomic indicators to deliver real-time insights into drought conditions and their potential impacts on vulnerable communities.

Speaking during a national stakeholder engagement meeting focused on drought monitoring and anticipatory action on Wenesday in Lilongwe,Yusuf Nkungula, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change, hailed the initiative as a vital step forward in Malawi’s climate adaptation efforts.

“This meeting marks a significant milestone in our journey to build a more resilient Malawi one that is better prepared to anticipate, respond to, and mitigate the impacts of climate-induced disasters, particularly droughts,” said Nkungula.

“As we all know, Malawi is increasingly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Droughts, once considered rare, are now frequent and more severe, threatening our food systems, water resources, and the livelihoods of millions.”

The PRISM system is also expected to strengthen disaster risk financing and enhance coordination among government bodies, humanitarian organizations, and development partners.

Daniel Svanlund, a representative from the World Food Programme (WFP), reiterated WFP’s commitment to supporting Malawi’s climate adaptation and disaster preparedness:

“Our goal is to help the country shift from reactive responses to proactive risk management. The PRISM system enables evidence-based decision-making, allowing stakeholders to act before disaster strikes saving lives, resources, and livelihoods,”said
Svanlund.

Svanlund highlighted the pilot’s success in improving drought forecasting, facilitating targeted early interventions, and enabling more efficient resource allocation.

Experts believe Malawi’s early adoption of PRISM could serve as a model for other countries in Southern Africa, where the frequency and severity of climate-related disasters continue to rise.

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has already shown interest in regional collaboration on climate information systems and drought preparedness.

PRISM is a tool developed by the World Food Programme (WFP) and partners with funding support from the Government of Norway. Designed to support early warning and anticipatory action, PRISM uses geospatial analytics to deliver a detailed, real-time picture of climate hazards, food security, and population vulnerabilities enabling governments and agencies to act before disasters escalate.

Environment, Malawi

2024/2025 to expect good rainfall season for Malawi

Malawi News Agency (MANA)

By Prisca Mashushu

LILONGWE-(MANA)-The Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services has expressed satisfaction over the presentation of the 2024-2025 rainy season which shows that the country will have good rainfall that will help to boost the agriculture sector to produce hamper yields.

Speaking during the press briefing, on Friday, in Lilongwe, Director for department of climate change and meteorological services, Lucy Mtilatila said people should expect normal rainfall especially from December this year to April next year compared to last year as it was above normal rainfall.

“The onset will be a bit erratic especially October and November it doesn’t look good but the moment the season sets in December, farmers should expect good rainfall.

“We are also expecting intense rainfall hence challenges of floods are to be expected, but farmers should have high hopes to produce good yields,” she said.

She further added that Malawi will be slightly affected by El Niño with above rainfall in Southern Africa including Malawi with positive results compared to last year.

The Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change, Dr. Yusuf Nkungula highlighted that the 2024/2025 rainy season outlook will benefit farmers in planning and preparing at the right time in order to produce good yields.

“People should expect good rains this season and farmers are encouraged to plan properly so that it can help them to harvest more yields,” he said.

He further said the national climate outlook will also help in effective planning and good implementation of climate change.

Director of resources for the Ministry of Water and Sanitation, James Chitete said 2024/2025 rainy season outcome will help the department of climate change and meteorological services to work symbiotically with the Ministry of Water and Sanitation on how to manage meteorological focus and hydrological services in terms of floods and other natural disasters.

“This will benefit Malawians as it specializes on duties of various sectors to share various issues concerning climate change in the country,” he explained.

Environment, Malawi

MET warns on flash floods amid torrential rains

Lloyd M’bwana

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services has warned that the country may experience flash floods as heavy rains will continue in the northern region and Lakeshore areas of the country.

Yobu Kachiwanda the spokesperson for the department confirmed the development indicating that most parts that were hit with dry spells in the past week will from Tuesday, December 26, 2023, start receiving rainfall.

Kachiwanda has since advised that those staying in flood-prone areas should stay alert following this weather pattern.

The government has for the past years sensitizing the people to the need to relocate permanently to the higher areas to mitigate such calamities, especially in the Lower Shire.

According to weather focus, Malawi will experience Elnino in the 2023/2024 growing season the northern part is expected to have heavy rainfall while the south has a few dry spells.

Environment, Malawi

Malawi’s Meteorological agency warns severe heatwave in Shire Valley

Chisomo Phiri
Effects Severe drought

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services has issued a warning statement to people living in Shire Valley that there will be a heatwave with minor effects in the area next five days.

The warning statement the department released on Monday October 24, 2022 indicates that the temperature in said area is expected to be very hot at the average of 40 and 42 degrees celsius.

The department has therefore, advised people to keep hydrated by drinking plenty of water and avoid exposure to direct sunlight particularly between 12 noon and 3pm in the afternoon.

Meanwhile,to protect teachers and leaners from the heatwave, the Ministry of education is advising heads of education institutions in the Shire Valley and surrounding areas are to to follow the following new formulated measures which are strictly applicable in the next four days;

i. ensure that learners and teachers are encouraged to keep hydrated by drinking plenty of water;

ii. avoid exposure to direct sunshine;

iii. be flexible by allowing learners and teachers to dress in loose clothing that allows free flow of air;

iv. waive school timetable to allow learners and teachers to come early to school by 7:00am and knock off by 11:00am for both primary and secondary schools for the next four days.

Environment, Malawi

Tropical Storm Gombe to hit Malawi

Maravi Post Reporter

By Chisomo Phiri

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-Weather experts in the country have warned the nation of possible heavy rains due to the formation of a new Tropical Storm Gombe over the Indian Ocean.

According to Lucy Mtilatila, Acting Director for the department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services, the storm which is currently overland on Madagascar and is moving westwards, was detected four days ago in the Indian Ocean.

Floods hitting hard Malawi

Mtilatila has told the press that the storm is likely to cause heavy rains in the country on Friday as it will be making its landfall in Mozambique on the same day.

She has however, said the weather department is monitoring the situation and that at current position, the storm does not have any impact on the country’s weather pattern.

However, the department is advising people living in flood prone areas to be cautious and follow daily weather updates.

According to DODMA, as of February 1, 2022, the previous Moderate Tropical Storm Ana affected 800, 000 people in 19 councils, killed 33 people and 20 were missing.

Development

Water Ministry warns Malawi’s North, Central region residents over possible floods

Maravi Post Reporter

By Thandie Chadzandiyani

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Ministry of Water and Sanitation through the Department of Water Resources has revealed that there is a possibility of flooding of most rivers in the Northern and Central areas of Malawi.

This has been disclosed in a Statement signed by J.N. Magwira, Secretary for Water and Sanitation.

According to the statement, the Congo air mass coupled with the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone ( ITCZ) will be influencing the weather over Central and Northern areas in the country thereby causing rains likely associated with occasional thunderstorms.

This is based on the forecast by the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services.

Among the rivers likely to be flooded are Songwe, North Rukuru, Kyungu and Lufilya rivers in Karonga District, Kasitu River and South Rukuru in Rumphi, Bua, Dwangwa, Dwambadzi, Lifyodzi, and Mkhula rivers in Nkhotakota District, Lingadzi, Linthipe, and Lifidzi rivers in Salima District.

The others places also include the low lying areas along the lake shore districts of Karonga, Rumphi, Nkhatabay, Nkhotakota, Salima, and some urban areas of Lilongwe along Lingadzi and Mchesi rivers.

The Ministry has therefore urged the general public to refrain from crossing the flooded rivers and streams, settling and cultivating in the mentioned areas during this time.

Environment, Malawi, Top News

MET warns about floods in Malawi’s southern region from Monday to Wednesday

Maravi Post Reporter

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services is issuing a severe weather warning that: As from Monday 21st January 2019 to Wednesday 23 rd January 2019, heavy rains accompanied by strong winds are expected mainly over most of southern Malawi.

 

This is due to a deep and wide low pressure system in the Mozambique Channel which has strengthened and therefore been named Tropical storm ‘Desmond’ while located near Quelimane north of Beira in Mozambique, which is 390 kilometers away from southern Malawi border in Nsanje.

 

In a press statement signed by the department’s Director Jolamu Nkhokwe says by 14:00 hours on Monday 21st January the Tropical Storm was on its way to make a landfall over  Mozambique, while dumping heavy rains overland including southern Malawi.

“The Storm is expected to weaken by Wednesday 23 rd January 2019.  The anticipated heavy rains could cause floods including flash floods in prone areas.

 

Therefore, to secure property and lives, the public should take precautionary measures such as:  (i) moving to higher grounds when water levels have started rising,   (ii) avoid crossing flooding rivers and  (iii) not seeking shelter under trees and weak infrastructures,” reads the statement.

 

 

Agriculture, Malawi, Top News

Malawi crop estimate not yet out…….. as dry spell ransacks hectors of farms

Maravi Post Reporter

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development has said crop estimates are not yet out to establish the extent of damage caused by dry spell and fall army worms that has affected some districts in the country.

The Ministry’s Public Relations Officer, Osborne Tsoka told Malawi News Agency (Mana) Thursday in Lilongwe that continued dry spells have caused crops to wilt in most part of the country.

He said the Ministry is in the process to help smallholder framers to contain the spread of the fall army worms which has caused extensive damages to most maize crops.

“The Ministry is currently formulating the possible interventions that can assist the smallholder farmers with measures to overcome the problems and assess the impact in the prolonged dry spells and fall army on crop production,” Tsoka explained.

He disclosed that the Ministry is compiling crop estimates throughout the country and it would be able to know whether the country will have surplus or shortage.

The PRO pointed out that in some cases particularly in low lying areas of southern and central areas, cereal crops like Maize have dried up permanently and some farming households are likely not to harvest anything from their fields.

Tsoka added that, “The season started very well with most of the districts receiving the optimum planting rains by month end of November, with other districts getting their rains by December, 2017.”

“For the past three weeks, the rains have not come and there was an observation of wilting that ranged from moderate to permanent wilting. Approximately 215,000 hectares have been affected with 618,000 households likely not to harvest anything,” he noted.

The PRO explained that 270,000 hectares have been affected by fall army worms in some districts and 720,000 farming families have been greatly affected.

According to Tsoka, communities in low lying areas might be in some traces of floods and the farmers have to be cautious about the possibilities of the occurrence.

Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services, Seasoned Principal Agro-meteorologist, Adams Chavula said that average crop yields and production during 2017/18 growing season are likely to be lower than last season due prolonged dry spells.

“This will compromise crop production and household food security this growing season,” he narrated.

Chavula added that although most areas in southern and some parts of central of the country started experiencing prolonged dry spells from end of December, 2017 through to January, 2018 and good rainfall for agricultural production was confined to northern part of the country.