Malawi Weathers Tropical Storm Filipo's Parting Shots

This inclement weather results from the convergence of north-easterly and north-westerly air masses in Filipo's wake.

BLANTYRE, Malawi - Malawians can breathe a sigh of relief as Moderate Tropical Storm Filipo has begun tracking southeastward away from the country and into the Indian Ocean, writes Winston Mwale.

In its advisory issued Wednesday morning, the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services (DCCMS) confirmed the storm system was losing its tropical characteristics and no longer posed a direct threat to Malawi's populous areas.

However, the meteorological authorities warned that localized thunderstorms and heavy downpours were likely to persist across the nation over the next few days.

DCCMS warns: “Do not allow children close to streams, storm drains, or other flooded areas. Stay informed of updates from reliable and official channels.”

This inclement weather results from the convergence of north-easterly and north-westerly air masses in Filipo's wake.

While the departing storm system will spare Malawi its full fury, the residual deluge stands to further saturate a country still reeling from punishing rains over the past month.

Several districts have already been inundated, with the southern regions of Chikwawa and Nsanje among the hardest hit as the raging Shire River burst its banks.

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