Frequently Asked Questions

You can find the daily forecast on the website https://www.metmalawi.gov.mw/products/weekly-weather-update/

You can find the 5-day forecast on https://www.metmalawi.gov.mw/products/ and on the Zanyengo mobile app https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.zanyengo&pli=1/

You can find the air quality forecast on the website https://www.metmalawi.gov.mw/products/weekly-air-quality-bulletin/

You can find the 10-day agro-meteorological forecast on the website https://www.metmalawi.gov.mw/products/

Weather alerts can be found on the website's homepage https://www.metmalawi.gov.mw/weather-warnings/, and on the Zanyengo mobile app https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.zanyengo&hl=en. Weather alerts are also posted on our social media pages https://www.facebook.com/MetMalawiDCCMS

Seasonal forecasts can be found on the website https://www.metmalawi.gov.mw/products/district-downscaled-seasonal-forecast-2024-2025/. You can also contact your district council agricultural office for more information and guidance on the seasonal forecast.

You can find the agro-meteolorogical information that is available for your area on the https://www.metmalawi.gov.mw/products/. For more information and guidance, visit your district agricultural extension office.

To access a specific weather forecast for your area, it is best to contact the National Meteorological Center at least one week in advance of your event or activity. You can contact us through our facebook page on https://www.facebook.com/MetMalawiDCCMS
Alternatively, you can use the contact form on the website through https://www.metmalawi.gov.mw/contact-us/

Weather alerts are posted in the Zanyengo app. Weather alerts can also be found on the website's homepage https://www.metmalawi.gov.mw/. Weather alerts are also posted on our social media pages, such as the DCCMS facebook page on https://www.facebook.com/MetMalawiDCCMS , Whatsapp channel at https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaT21WW8PgsBmJWWGc1A among others. We also advise to checking our daily weather bulletins on the national television (MBC) and your local radio stations.

Before the Storm

• Stay informed by monitoring weather updates through DCCMS website, DCCMS social media pages, your community radios, Television, or Zanyengo app.
• Avoid outdoor activities when thunderstorms are forecasted.

During the Storm

If Indoors:

• Stay away from windows, doors, and electrical appliances.
• Avoid using wired telephones and unplug electronics to prevent power surges.

If Outdoors:

• Seek shelter in a sturdy building or ahard-topped vehicle.
• Avoid open fields, isolated trees, and tall objects.
• Stay away from water bodies like lakes, rivers, and pools.
• Crouch low to the ground if no shelter is available—do NOT lie flat.

After the Storm

• Wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder-clap before resuming outdoor activities.
• Be cautious of fallen power lines and report any hazards to local authorities.

No. Earthquakes and tremors are geological or geophysical phenomena, not meteorological phenomena.

DCCMS primarily monitors and provides information on weather and climate conditions.

Earthquake monitoring and measurement generally fall under the responsibility of the geological Survey.

Haze is a condition where extremely small, dry particles are suspended in the air, making the atmosphere appear cloudy or less clear and reducing visibility.

Haze can form naturally from dust or result from human activities such as bushfires, crop-residue burning, factory emissions and vehicle pollution.

In Malawi, hazy conditions are often observed during the dry season, when dry and hot conditions can allow fine particles to remain suspended in the atmosphere. Haze is a condition where extremely small, dry particles are suspended in the air, making the atmosphere appear cloudy or less clear and reducing visibility.

Haze can form naturally from dust or result from human activities such as bushfires, crop-residue burning, factory emissions and vehicle pollution.

In Malawi, hazy conditions are often observed during the dry season, when dry and hot conditions can allow fine particles to remain suspended in the atmosphere.

Haze is most commonly seen during the day time

Fog is like a cloud that forms close to the ground. It develops when moist air cools and forms tiny water droplets in the air. These droplets make it difficult to see clearly over long distances.

In Malawi, fog is more common during the cool winter months, particularly from May to July, and often occurs overnight and during early morning.

However, fog can also occur at other times of the year, especially when there is plenty of moisture in the air, such as during or after periods of heavy or persistent rainfall.

While haze is often associated with hot and dry conditions, when dust, smoke and other dry particles remain suspended in the air, fog is associated with cooler conditions, when moisture in the air condenses into tiny water droplets.

Fog often disappears after sunrise as temperatures rise and the air warms, causing the tiny water droplets to evaporate.

Malawi falls under the South-West Indian Ocean cyclone basin, where tropical cyclones are named by Météo-France’s Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre (RSMC) La Réunion. The names are selected from a pre-approved list submitted by countries in the region, including Malawi, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, and others.

Each cyclone season, the first system that reaches tropical storm strength is assigned the next available name from the list which is arranged alphabetically. If a cyclone is exceptionally destructive, its name is permanently retired and replaced with a new one to avoid confusion and respect those affected by the storm.

Malawi is influenced by;

• Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) – A major driver of rainfall, particularly during the rainy season (November to April), as it shifts southward.
• Congo Air Mass – Brings widespread rainfall over the country. It originates from the Congo Basin and it can be recognized by its intermittent heavy rainfall episodes sometimes accompanied by thunderstorms.
• Tropical Cyclones and Depressions – Systems from the South-West Indian Ocean can bring heavy rainfall, strong winds, and flooding, particularly in the central and southern region.
• Easterly Waves – These weather disturbances originate over the Indian Ocean and play a role in bringing rainfall to Malawi. They are characterized by periodic fluctuations or a wavelike pattern as they move westward.
• Convergence ahead of pressure rise- the meeting of cool and moist south easterlies with warm easterly or north easterly air mass. The rains influenced by this system are accompanied by strong winds and thunderstorms.

Mwera winds information is included in the daily, weekly and medium-range forecasts. If a Mwera winds warning is issued, it will also be published on the DCCMS Weather Warnings website, the weather app and other DCCMS social media pages like facebook https://www.facebook.com/MetMalawiDCCMS.

If no warning is indicated in the forecasts or on any of these platforms, it means that no Mwera winds warning is currently in effect.

DCCMS issues warnings for the following hazards: dry spells, heavy rains, heatwaves, cold spells, tropical cyclones and strong winds.

Weather alerts are posted in the Zanyengo app. Weather alerts can also be found on the website's homepage through https://www.metmalawi.gov.mw/ .Weather alerts are also posted on our social media pages, such as the DCCMS facebook page on https://www.facebook.com/MetMalawiDCCMS , Whatsapp channel at https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaT21WW8PgsBmJWWGc1A among others. We also advise to checking our daily weather bulletins on the national television (MBC) and your local radio stations.

Before the Storm

• Stay informed by monitoring weather updates through DCCMS website, DCCMS social media pages, your community radios, Television, or Zanyengo app.
• Avoid outdoor activities when thunderstorms are forecasted.

During the Storm

If Indoors:

• Stay away from windows, doors, and electrical appliances.
• Avoid using wired telephones and unplug electronics to prevent power surges.

If Outdoors:

• Seek shelter in a sturdy building or a hard-topped vehicle.
• Avoid open fields, isolated trees, and tall objects.
• Stay away from water bodies like lakes, rivers, and pools.
• Crouch low to the ground if no shelter is available—do NOT lie flat.

After the Storm

• Wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder-clap before resuming outdoor activities.
• Be cautious of fallen power lines and report any hazards to local authorities.

For data resources, look under the Data and Tools tab in the main menu. For specific data requests, use the contact form which can be found under the Data and Tools tab in the main menu, then click on Data Requests: https://www.metmalawi.gov.mw/data-requests/

Please contact DCCMS via the contact form which can be found under the Data and Tools tab in the main menu, then click on Data Requests: https://www.metmalawi.gov.mw/data-requests/

If you notice an error in the weather and climate information published by us, kindly contact DCCMS through nmc@metmalawi.gov.mw

To verify whether a weather forecast has been officially issued by DCCMS, always check the official website and verified social media platforms for the original publication.

Send an email to jpagona@metmalawi.gov.mw or call +265887321833

Yes. schools, colleges and universities can contact DCCMS offices to inquire about arranging eduactional visits to our weather stations. Requests should be made in advance.

It can be downloaded from website at https://www.metmalawi.gov.mw/publications/. It can also be access through facebook and DCCMS whatsapp channel