STATEMENT ON THE STATUS OF RAINFALL IN MALAWI ISSUED ON 16 DECEMBER 2014

STATEMENT ON THE STATUS OF RAINFALL IN MALAWI

ISSUED ON 16 DECEMBER 2014

  1.0 Background

Generally from October to the first week of December 2014, the northern parts of the country experienced reasonable amount of rainfall whereas the central and southern   areas, the rains were suppressed. Nonetheless, southern parts of Malawi started receiving substantial amounts of rainfall.

2.0 Status of the Rainfall Pattern from 11- 19 December 2014

Significant amounts of rainfall were received over some parts of the country mainly over the southern region as recorded and received are as follows:

DATE	PLACE	RAINFALL (MM)
11 December	Chichiri	7.0mm
	Makoka	4.4mm
12 December	Chileka	6.6mm
14 December	Mpemba	5.6mm
15 December	Chichiri	24.2mm
	Billy Ngabu	16.5mm
	Thuchira Agri	10.0mm
	Mpemba vert	14.6mm
	Ntubwi (Liwonde )Agri	8.9mm

This was due to the prevalence of relatively moist and unstable air mass over some parts in the south with isolated cases over central and northern Malawi.

As from 18th December 2014, the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) one of the rain-bearing systems is expected to become established and active over southern Malawi with pulses of Congo air mass another rain-bearing system, occasionally affecting the western parts of the country.

Therefore, favorable amounts of rainfall are expected over the entire country as from Thursday 18 to 19th December 2014.

3.0 Prospect of Rainfall Pattern from 20- 31December 2014

From 20 to 31st December 2014, widespread rains are expected across the country which will be locally heavy as I.T.C.Z and Congo air mass remain active.

4.0 Update on the development of El-Nino.

Meanwhile, a weak El-Nino has developed over the Eastern central equatorial Pacific Ocean and is generally associated with erratic rains over Southern Africa including Malawi.