The Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services on Saturday warned Malawians to “brace for another wave of heavy rainfall” which is expected from Sunday January 5 to January 9 over most areas in the centre, south and the lakeshore areas.

In a statement issued by Jolam Nkhokwe, director of the Department which falls under the Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining, he said this is due to the presence of deep low pressure in association with an active Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) currently oscillating over the south and central areas of the country.

“The heavy rains are expected to be associated with strong winds, lightning and trigger floods in low-lying and flood prone areas,’ the director said.

The Department said due to already heavy rainfall amounts that the country has already been receiving and has caused flooding in some areas of the centre and lakeshore areas during the past days causing loss and damage to property, “ the anticipated heavy rains which will be accompanied by strong winds and lightning are also likely to increase coverage that are likely to experience floods and therefore leading to further damage and loss of property and endanger lives over most of the centre, south and lakeshore areas.”

The Department warned that to secure property and lives, the public should take precautionary measures such as:

Moving to higher grounds when water levels have started rising

.Avoid crossing flooded rivers

. Not to seek shelter under trees and weak infrastructure.

The Department will closely monitor weather developments which can directly or indirectly affect weather over the country and will issue regular daily and weekly updates to ensure seamless use of weather information on all time scales for the public to be kept safe from any weather related threats in the country.